Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist)
Location: Washington, DC
Announcement Number: PW-24-SOL-01
Salary: $55,924 - $72,703
Closing Date: March 29, 2024
This Pathways Internship appointment located in the Division of Federal Employees' and Energy Workers Compensation (FEEWC), a national office division in the Office of the Solicitor. The Division is responsible for providing legal services to the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) in connection with workers' compensation claims under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA), and related statues.
Incumbent serves as a paralegal specialist in the FEEWC Division and is responsible for his or her own personal case load of subrogation matters. The FEEWC Division is responsible for thousands of cases referred to FEEWC by OWCP in order to determine whether FECA claimants should be required to seek damages from third parties potentially liable for FECA-covered injuries and illnesses and for monitoring any litigation seeking such damages.
Incumbents make initial case analysis to determine that sufficient evidence exists to indicate third-party liability involving the injury or death of a Federal employee or other covered beneficiary. Incumbent also determines advisability of instituting proceedings against a third party given both the past and projected future expenditures of Government funds and the probable cost of securing a recovery.
Incumbent provides assistance in the development of the third-party claim by offering assistance to private attorneys and employees, providing copies of relevant documents from the employee's OWCP case file, and by explaining obligations imposed by the subrogation provisions of the FECA. For employees who are negotiating settlements without the assistance of a private attorney, incumbent advises employees of the applicable statute of limitations to their cause of action as well as how to present a claim. Incumbent also counsels employees to seek private counsel, if deemed appropriate.
Incumbent drafts a variety of legal correspondence concerning application of the subrogation provisions of the FECA and the calculation of the Government's statutory right of reimbursement for disbursements made in accordance with the provisions of the FECA.
This position is inside the bargaining unit.
The advancement of Interns to higher-graded positions, prior to conversion, is strictly at the agency's discretion. To qualify for promotions, the Interns must have the same level and type of experience and/or education usually required for an initial appointment.
The entire duration of the Student Intern Pathway Student Appointment constitutes a trial period.
