About this role
Job Summary
The Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representative) (LAS) serves on the Public Contact Team in the Veterans Service Center. The incumbent provides in-depth information and comprehensive assistance to veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries concerning any matter within the scope of VA benefits and related non-VA benefits.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:10/23/2026.
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. If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to a lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-10 or higher, and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least None. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. Submit an SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this case, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year of time-in-grade.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-10 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: 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. In-depth knowledge of researching relevant subject matter. The experience should be significantly and directly derived from federal, military, or private-sector experience. 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.
Education Substitution: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, completion of two and a half (2.5) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M., if related. (You must provide transcripts) Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g., have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.
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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work builds critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translate 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
Most work is generally performed under common business office conditions at the Regional Office. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of offices, meeting rooms, and training rooms. The work area is adequately lit, heated, and ventilated. Telework on a limited basis may be offered after a successful probationary period is satisfied, and performance is at least at fully satisfied. It also requires concentration and the ability to sustain maximum mental output over extended periods of time.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Major Duties
- Specific duties include: Coordinating counseling sessions with Veterans, their dependents, and their beneficiaries regarding all benefits available through the VA, as well as non-VA benefits available through other agencies. This is accomplished through in-person meetings, telephone interviews, or written correspondence. Explaining, in detail, VA rating decisions and providing explanations for said decisions using extensive knowledge of VA benefits and services, claim and appeal processing procedures, benefit determination information, and all pertinent information available in the system of record. Assisting with programs including, but 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. Preparing technical correspondence to Veterans and their dependents providing benefit information, representation rights, and response to miscellaneous inquiries. Explaining pertinent legal provisions, regulations, and related administrative practices and their application to specific cases. May serve as or with the Outreach Coordinator (such as the Women's Veterans Coordinator, Minority Veterans Coordinator, Homeless Veterans Coordinator, Aging Veterans Coordinator, Ex-Prisoners of War Coordinator, or Military Services Coordinator). Initiating inquiries to resolve errors, delays, or other problems in obtaining benefits. Completes claim and appeal-related work. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday - Friday; 8 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representative); PD02108A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit: No
Requirements
As a condition of employment, you must serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In 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.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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 per I-9 Acceptable Documents. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.