0950 - Paralegal Specialist Series

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Federal Occupation Description

Federal Occupation Description

This series covers positions not requiring professional legal competence that involve various legal assistance duties, of a type not classifiable in some other series in the Legal and Kindred Group, in connection with functions such as hearings, appeals, litigation, or advisory services. The specialists analyze the legal impact of legislative developments and administrative and judicial decisions, opinions, determinations, and rulings on agency programs; conduct research for the preparation of legal opinions on matters of interest to the agency; perform substantive legal analysis of requests for information under the provisions of various acts; or other similar legal support functions that require discretion and independent judgment in the application of a specialized knowledge of laws, precedent decisions, regulations, agency policies and practices, and judicial or administrative proceedings. Such knowledge is less than that represented by graduation from a recognized law school, and may have been gained from formalized, professionally instructed agency or educational institution training or from professionally supervised on-the-job training. While the paramount knowledge requirements of this series are legal, some positions also require a practical knowledge of subject matter areas related to the agency's substantive programs.

For job opportunities in this series, go to the Office of Personnel Management USAJOBS website.

Other Federal Occupations

It is not uncommon for individuals in one federal occupational series to perform duties related to another series within the same federal occupational group. To find out about the certifications for another series in the LEGAL AND KINDRED GROUP, click on that series below. Note that credentials have not yet been identified for all series – links are provided only to those series for which the identification of credentials has been completed. Additional series will be added over time.

  • 0901 - General Legal and Kindred Administration Series
  • 0904 - Law Clerk Series
  • 0905 - General Attorney Series
  • 0930 - Hearings and Appeals Series
  • 0958 - Employee Benefits Law Series
  • 0962 - Contact Representative Series
  • 0963 - Legal Instruments Examining Series
  • 0965 - Land Law Examining Series
  • 0967 - Passport and Visa Examining Series
  • 0986 - Legal Assistance Series
  • 0987 - Tax Law Specialist Series
  • 0991 - Workers' Compensation Claims Examining Series
  • 0993 - Railroad Retirement Claims Examining Series
  • 0996 - Veterans Claims Examining Series
  • 0998 - Claims Assistance and Examining Series
  • 0999 - Legal Occupations Student Trainee Series

The following certifications have been identified as most relevant to the broad duties of this federal occupational series. Please note that these credentials may not reflect all of the unique job functions that you perform within your organization. Also these credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about any credential, click on the credential title below.

Compare Credential Agency Related As GI Bill® Accreditation ID
PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) Is Not In Demand National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) mostMost    
Certified Legal Manager (CLM) Is Not In Demand Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) otherOther    
Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) Is Not In Demand NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) Is Not In Demand NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) Is Not In Demand International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) someSome   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Paralegal (CP) Is Not In Demand National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) mostMost GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Manager (CM) In DemandIs In Demand Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) Is Not In Demand National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) otherOther    
Professional Paralegal (PP) Is Not In Demand NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
GIAC Law of Data Security and Investigations (GLEG) Is Not In Demand Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
CORE Registered Paralegal (CRP) Is Not In Demand National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) mostMost    
Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) In DemandIs In Demand International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) otherOther   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) Is Not In Demand International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) otherOther   AccreditationAccreditation
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2013 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2016 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2013 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2016 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2013 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2016 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation otherOther GI BillGI Bill  

State Licenses

Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Related Civilian Private Sector Occupations

The following civilian private sector occupations are similar to the duties performed by 0950 - Paralegal Specialist Series. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below.

Civilian Job Duties Matched Bright Outlook Registered Apprenticeship Local Salary Info
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Judicial Law Clerks someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Legal Secretaries someSome   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Paralegals and Legal Assistants mostMost Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Top
This is an official U.S. Navy websiteUpdated: October 16, 2019
Click here to go to PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 2 years

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) is for experienced paralegals who possess knowledge, skills, and ability in administration of client legal matters, development of client legal matters, factual legal research and writing, and office administration. RP applicants must meet education and/or work experience requirements and pass a written exam.

Click here to go to Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) is the basic certification for legal professionals. Candidates must have completed one of the following requirements to take the written examination; an accredited business/legal course, NALS Legal Training Course, or have one year of general office experience. Candidate needs to take and pass a four-hour, three-part exam that includes knowledge areas on written communications, office procedures and legal knowledge, and ethics, human relations, and judgment.

Click here to go to Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) is the advanced certification for legal professionals. Candidates must have three years' experience in the legal field. A partial waiver of the three-year legal experience requirement may be granted for post-secondary degrees, successful completion of the ALS exam, or other certifications. The maximum waiver is one year. Candidate needs to take and pass a one day, four-part exam that includes knowledge areas on written communications, office procedures and technology, ethics and judgment, and legal knowledge and skills.

Click here to go to Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credential is recommended for mid-career level office management and business administrative professionals. Administrative professionals should have basic knowledge of office systems, technology, office administration, and management, and know how to apply the principles of human relations and communications. Candidates must take an pass a written examination based on knowledge acquired by the office professional through education and reading. Candidates must have 4 years of experience of which advanced education may be used in place of some experience.

Click here to go to Certified Paralegal (CP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)/Certified Paralegal (CP) is an entry-level certification. CLA/CP credential signifies that a legal assistant is capable of providing superior services to firms and corporations. National surveys consistently show Certified Legal Assistants/Certified Paralegals are better utilized in a field where attorneys are looking for a credible, dependable way to measure ability. The credential has been recognized by the American Bar Association as a designation which marks a high level of professional achievement. The CLA/CP credential has also been recognized by over 47 legal assistant organizations and numerous bar associations. Candidates must meet education and/or experience requirements and pass an examination.

Click here to go to Professional Paralegal (PP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals, Professional Paralegal (PP) is designed for paralegals with a proficiency in legal knowledge, the ability to perform legal tasks, and a commitment to a high standard of conduct and professionalism. PP certification candidates should possess an advanced knowledge of procedural law, the law library, and the preparation of legal documents. Candidates should also have working knowledge of substantive law and the ability to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work under an attorney’s supervision, the ability to interact on a professional level with attorneys, clients, and other staff, and the discipline to assume responsibility and exercise initiative and judgment. To earn the PP certification, candidates must meet one of the education and/or experience requirements and pass a written exam.

Click here to go to CORE Registered Paralegal (CRP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 2 years

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), Core Registered Paralegal (CRP) credential is for early-career and entry-level paralegals who possess knowledge, skills, and ability in paralegal practice and substantive areas of law. CRP applicants must meet education and/or work experience requirements and pass a written exam.  

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2013 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2013 credential is an entry-level certification for individuals who wish to demonstrate expertise in using Microsoft Office programs. Key technologies include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, SharePoint and OneNote. Candidates must pass one certification exam. There are no experience requirements for this certification but Microsoft Learning recommends that a candidate have hands-on experience with the product prior to testing.

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2016 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2016 credential is an entry-level certification for individuals who wish to demonstrate expertise in using Microsoft Office programs. Key technologies include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. Candidates must pass one certification exam. There are no experience requirements for this certification but Microsoft Learning recommends that a candidate have hands-on experience with the product prior to testing.

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2016 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2016 credential is a mid-level certification for candidates that have advanced skills in key Office programs.  Key technologies assessed by this certification include Microsoft Office Word 2016 and Microsoft Office Excel 2016. There are no prerequisites to sit for one or both of the qualifying exams.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click here to go to the GI Bill site.

ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the rating (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the rating (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Most – Tasks in these careers match most duties of the military job or specialty (approximately 80% or greater)
Some – Tasks in these careers match some duties of the military job or specialty (greater than 20% but less than 80%)
Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Judicial Law Clerks
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Judicial Law Clerks
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Legal Secretaries
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Legal Secretaries
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Paralegals and Legal Assistants