Paralegal Specialist
What you'd do
With nearly 1,700 attorneys, IRS Chief Counsel is the largest tax law firm nationwide. Our attorneys are among top tax law practitioners and some of the very best legal minds found anywhere. Together with the IRS, we serve the public by applying the tax code with fairness and integrity. After pausing hiring in 2025, we are seeking administrative professionals to support our legal work. Click to learn more: IRS Office of Chief Counsel Careers Site Meet Our People Learn about our Legal Divisions
Major duties
The Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration) provides legal advice and litigation support services on tax matters involving Federal Tax Procedure and the procedural aspects of filing returns and paying taxes; information reporting; assessment and collection of taxes (including interest and penalties); abating, crediting or refunding over-assessments or overpayments of tax; whistleblower matters; disclosure, Privacy and the Freedom of Information Act; bankruptcy practice and procedure; summonses and the gathering of information; legal ethics; the Administrative Procedure Act; Foreign Bank Account Reporting; user fees; and judicial practice and procedures. As a Paralegal Specialist you will: Process requests for background file documents and underlying written determinations and select documents to be disclosed to the public pursuant to provisions of 6110. Examine Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and coordinate searches for documents maintained within the National Office of Chief Counsel. Make determinations of a judgmental nature regarding requests for document delays. Research and assist in the preparation of legal opinions and formulated advice on a variety of legal tax problems. Draft and redact non-legal memoranda, research reports and correspondence relating to cases. Perform legal research using automated systems and research tools. Develop and perform queries, run reports and retrieve documents from internal sources. This is not an all-inclusive list. If selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform the duties of the position, and will receive training to help you grow in the position.
What you need to qualify
In order to qualify for this position of Paralegal Specialist, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements detailed below by the closing date of this announcement. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. For GS-9: Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-7 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Reviewing and processing records or disclosure requests; researching statutes, regulations, and related guidance; determining appropriate disclosure or withholding of information; preparing written responses; and coordinating with staff to ensure accuracy and compliance with disclosure requirements. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-7). OR Education Substitution: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Paralegal Studies or Legal Studies, OR an LL.B. or J.D. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education: Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions. For GS-11: Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Independently analyzing and applying complex legal and disclosure requirements to determine the release or withholding of information; conducting legal research and preparing written determinations; reviewing documents for compliance with disclosure laws and regulations; and providing guidance or recommendations on disclosure issues, procedures, and sensitive information handling. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-9). OR Education Substitution: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Taxation/Tax Law. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education: Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions. NOTE: If qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application package. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
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