Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representation)
Phoenix, AZ - USA
Job Summary
The Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representation) serves as a member of the Public Contact Team based in the Veterans Service Center. The incumbent provides in-depth detailed information and comprehensive assistance to Veterans their dependents and beneficiaries regarding matters within the scope of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits as well as related non-VA benefits.
Typical duties include but are not limited to:
- Coordinates counseling sessions with Veterans their dependents and their beneficiaries face to face regarding all benefits available through the VA as well as non-VA benefits available through other agencies. This is accomplished through in-person or telephone interviews and correspondence. or telephone VBA facilities and provides broad outreach services.
- Explains in detail VBA rating decisions and provides explanations for the decisions using extensive knowledge of VA benefits and services claim and appeal processing procedures and benefit determination information and all pertinent information available in system of record.
- Assists with programs include but are not limited to compensation and pension benefits home loan eligibility education health care life insurance burial benefits vocational rehabilitation services general Social Security Administration benefit programs other federal state and local domestic relations and assistance programs.
- Prepares technical correspondence to Veterans and their dependents providing benefit information representation rights and response to miscellaneous inquiries.
- Explains pertinent legal provisions regulations and related administrative practices and their application to specific cases
- Serves as or with the Outreach Coordinator (such as the Womens Veterans Coordinator Minority Veterans Coordinator Homeless Veterans Coordinator Aging Veterans Coordinator Ex-Prisoners of War Coordinator or Military Services Coordinator).
- Initiates inquiries to resolve errors delays or other problems in obtaining benefits. Completes claim and appeal related work.
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Telework: Not Authorized
Position Description/PD#: Legal Administrative Specialist GS-10: 02108A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Bargaining Unit: Yes
As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:
- Your performance and conduct;
- The needs and interests of the Agency;
- Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
- Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service
Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.
- Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 08/28/2026.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- For a GS-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Specialized Experience for GS-10: For a GS-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in
any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in- grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
Specialized experience is defined as:
(1)experience that has demonstrated the capability of being a self-reliant decision-maker and possessing the ability to work independently when
providing customer service benefits counseling and claims processing.
(2) The individual must possess in-depth knowledge of researching relevant subject matter.
(3) The experience should be significantly and directly derived from federal military or the private sector. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to orating to persons from a wide variety of backgrounds regarding VA benefits programs; performing research of local state and Federal laws and regulations to determine Veterans eligibility for benefits programs.
OR
- Education Substitution: You may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must possess:
- Two and half years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position (must submit transcripts).
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two years of progressively higher level graduate education.
Volunteer Experience: 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements:The work is mostly sedentary. The employee will be required to talk for long periods of time which occasionally puts a strain on the throat/vocal cords. There are no other special physical demands required to perform the work. There may be some walking standing and carrying of light items such as papers books claims folders and files from one desk to another or for returning to storage. Extensive use of a computer and a telephone with a headset is required.
For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at http://://
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.
Note: You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However if you are selected for the position you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g. from the registrar dean or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice your most recent performance rating and your most recent SF-50 noting current position grade level and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPMs Career Transition Resources website at Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment change to lower grade transfer appointment or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA career development services for our existing Veterans and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. ( more information on the Who may apply eligibility requirements please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC