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The Legal Assistant 1, Trainee 1 or 2 will work under the supervision of an attorney (General/Deputy Counsel, Associate Attorney, or Senior Attorney) within the Office of Counsel and have the responsibility of assisting the Office in legal case management and preparation of materials, evidence, and research related to Administrative Hearings and litigation.
The candidate’s duties will include, but are not limited to:
• Provide extensive assistance to Attorneys in a busy professional legal office that handles administrative hearings and litigation.
• Conduct legal research using Westlaw, Federal Court Pacer, NY Courts E-Filing and legal source materials such as statutes, rules and regulations.
• Assist in the review and redaction of documents pursuant to FOIL.
• Review litigation documents such as summons and complaints, motions, affidavits and agency determinations; draft and assemble legal documents (stipulations of settlement, hearing exhibits, legal correspondence, judgments, subpoenas, etc.).
• Respond to inquiries from agency division staff and the public.
• Provide administrative/clerical support (such as processing mail, scanning, copying, scheduling meetings, answering phone calls and taking messages, typing, and filing).
• Develop and create project plans to manage and facilitate agency legal activities related to work on budget, legislative and regulatory reviews.
- $46,306 - $66,634/year
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). Appointments will be dependent upon qualifications of candidate selected.
At a future date, it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Non-Competitive Qualifications for appointment under the NYHELPS Program:
Legal Assistant Trainee 1: High school or high school equivalency diploma AND one year or clerical, administrative, or paraprofessional experience.
Substitution: An Associates degree (or higher) in any field, where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Legal Assistant 1: Two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” below)
Definition: A paralegal/Legal Assistant is someone who applies knowledge of the law and legal procedures in rendering direct assistance to lawyers, clients, and courts; prepares and interprets legal documents and forms; researches, compiles, and uses information from legal materials to proceed both written and verbal comments on their findings; and analyses and handles routine procedural problems independent with minimal attorney oversight.
Non-Qualifying experience: receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, office manager
Substitution: An associate degree (or higher) in paralegal/legal assistant/legal studies program or a certificate in a paralegal/legal assistant program where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) OR an associate degree in any field where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) AND one year of experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see definition in MQs) OR graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required for NYS Bar will be accepted as meeting the educational and experience requirements for this title.
Competitive Minimum Qualifications or current NYS Employee:
You must be currently reachable on the appropriate eligible list for this title, eligible under the 55 b/c program, or eligible to transfer to this title under Section
70.1 or 70.4 of the Civil Service Law.
For 70.1 or 70.4 transfer to a Legal Assistant 1, salary grade (SG)-14, you must have one year of permanent competitive, or 55-b/55-c service in an approved title for transfer allocated to a SG-12 or above. SG-09 or above for a Trainee 1, SG- 11 or above for a Trainee 2, depending on qualifications.
To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website: Career Mobility Office » GOT-IT (ny.gov)
Appointments via transfer must not result in a second, consecutive transfer with an advancement of more than two S-grades or one M-grade.
Special Minimum Qualifications for transfer to Legal Assistant 1:
Both A) Possession of an associate's degree (or higher) in a paralegal/legal assistant program OR a certificate in a paralegal/legal assistant program where either the degree or certificate was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or college or university accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), AND B) completion of all of the coursework requirements for the Legal Assistant traineeship.
OR
If eligible via 55b/c please provide a copy of your active letter of eligibility with your response
*If this position is filled a the trainee level, you may be required to successfully complete courses in specific areas, in addition to on-the-job training activities, prior to completing the traineeship.
55-bc Program: The Governor's Programs to Hire Individuals and Veterans with Disabilities consist of two specialized programs: the 55-b and the 55-c Program. This position may be designated 55-b/c and is subject to verification of applicant
eligibility. For more information on the 55b/c Program, please visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/.
The agency participates in the NYS Telecommuting Program and questions may be raised during the interview. Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
How to ApplyPlease email resume and cover letter to recruitment@omig.ny.gov with subject line Legal Assistant 1, Trainee 1 & 2- BUFFALO. Resumes must be submitted no later than February 23, 2025.
