Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Paralegals & Legal Secretaries Blogs -> Practical Paralegalism

Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

: Practical Paralegalism

Paralegal Posting of the Week: National Aeronautics & Space Administration

By Lynne DeVenny

by Margaret Lucas Agius, CP

NASA is looking for a Paralegal Specialist to work at its Washington, D.C. headquarters in the Office of the General Counsel, General Law Practice Group:

NASA, the world's leader in space and aeronautics is always seeking outstanding scientists, engineers, and other talented professionals to carry forward the great discovery process that its mission demands. Creativity. Ambition. Teamwork. A sense of daring. And a probing mind. That's what it takes to join NASA, one of the best places to work in the Federal Government.

Major Duties:

The work of this position will include performing legal and factual research and other closely related duties in support of attorneys by accomplishing the following:

Prepares for review and approval by the assigning attorney a variety of substantive legal documents, such as pleadings, opinions, litigation reports, memoranda of law, trial briefs, appellate briefs, summonses, complaints, answers, motion papers, stipulations, and discovery and discovery responses. Correspondence to opposing counsel and summaries of testimony and depositions are also included. Processes documents, arranges for filing and service; and, performs all necessary follow up.

Provides advice to attorneys and other legal support staff on the most effective and efficient ways to prepare, present, and maintain a variety of administrative legal documents, e.g., discovery materials, exhibit lists, witness lists, and subpoenas.

Researches, analyzes, and summarizes relevant cases, laws, statutes, regulations, court rules, policies, procedures, legal periodicals, and other legal authorities for applicability to assigned cases primarily in the area of ethics and related areas of general law, administrative law, agency decisions and regulations. Other documents that may be researched include: articles in trade magazines, published studies, financial reports, and similar materials. This position will also prepare digest of points of law involved; and, analyzes appellate records to isolate facts pertinent to distinct legal issues.

Determines the nature of the claims and circumstances involved and analyzes and evaluates case files for litigation worthiness. The claims are typically before the federal courts, EEOC, MSPB, FLRA, Office of Special Counsel, NASA, and Comptroller General/GAO.

Performs a variety of administrative duties in support of assigned attorneys. Such duties involve administrative support not of a strictly legal nature, but which typically involve automation support or other administrative subject-matter areas, e.g. the development and implementation of the ethics training program, financial disclosures, travel regulations, etc. Reviews and adapts available guidelines and procedures used in the design, development, and maintenance of a database system.

Researches and summarizes all relevant articles in selected newspapers, magazines, journals, and law reviews; compiles biographical summaries on the author whose work is being reviewed; and, indexes these materials for continuing use by staff.

Federal job postings are notoriously long, so please feel free to read this one in its entirety at http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=95092277&aid=79665478-281210&WT.mc_n=125. The application period is Monday, December 27, 2010 to Monday, January 10, 2011.

Creativity. Check. Ambition. Check. Teamwork. Check. A sense of daring. Check. And a probing mind. Check. I tossed my hat in the ring today. Would you care to join me?

______________

Margaret Lucas Agius, a NALA Certified Paralegal, has been writing for and about paralegals since 1998. Her articles have appeared in the "Michigan Bar Journal," the "Michigan Paralegal" and "Facts & Findings." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Bachelor of Science in paralegal studies from Madonna University.

Full post as published by Practical Paralegalism on December 29, 2010 (boomark / email).