Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representation).

About the role

This position serves as a member of the Public Contact Team at the Nashville Regional Office Veterans Service Center, Veterans Benefits Administration in Nashville, Tennessee. Through seasoned knowledge, 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, including cases requiring advanced technical proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provides broad outreach services through in-person, telephone, email, video, or chat contacts with the public to advise and provide information on benefits and rights, explain legal provisions, regulations, and administrative practices, assist individuals in providing needed documents and evidence, and initiate inquiries to resolve errors, delays, or other problems in obtaining benefits.
• Coordinates counseling sessions with veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries face-to-face regarding all VA benefits and non-VA benefits available through other agencies, using in-person or telephone interviews and correspondence.
• Explains in detail VBA rating decisions and provides explanations using extensive knowledge of VA benefits, services, claim and appeal processing procedures, and benefit determination information available in system of record.
• Assists with programs including compensation and pension benefits, home loan eligibility, education, health care, life insurance, burial benefits, vocational rehabilitation services, 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 responses to miscellaneous inquiries.
• Explains pertinent legal provisions, regulations, and related administrative practices and their application to specific cases.
• May serve as or with the Outreach Coordinator (e.g., Women’s 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 and completes claim and appeal related work.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Effective May 7, 2025, REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards are required for employment.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement (09/01/2026).

Time-in-Grade Requirement: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. An SF-50 demonstrating time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with application materials.

Minimum Qualification Requirements (GS-10):

• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, demonstrating capability as a self-reliant decision-maker with in-depth knowledge of researching relevant subject matter. Examples include orating to diverse audiences about VA benefits programs and researching local, state, and federal laws and regulations to determine eligibility.
• Education: Two and a half years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Combination of Experience and Education: Applicants may combine education and experience beyond two years of graduate education to meet the full qualification requirement.

Volunteer experience is creditable. Full-time employment is defined as at least 35 hours per week; part-time experience is prorated.

Physical Requirements

The work is mostly sedentary. The employee will frequently talk for long periods, occasionally straining the throat/vocal cords. Occasional walking, standing, and carrying of light items such as papers, books, claims folders, and files may be required. Extensive use of a computer and telephone with a headset is required.