Legal Assistant 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS

Duties

The Office of General Counsel’s (OGC) Corporate Bureau is seeking a Legal Assistant 1 to serve at the lead Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Coordinator for OGC and to assist the Ethics Officer and Corporate Bureau, as needed.

The Legal Assistant 1 would assist the Records Access Office with various FOIL duties by: overseeing the Records Access mailbox for OGC; tracking FOIL requests in GovQA, which is the state’s online FOIL management system; responding to requestor and DEC staff emails; assigning FOIL activities to appropriate staff; entering, extending and closing requests; sending reminder emails to staff regarding overdue FOIL activities; generating and distributing weekly FOIL statistics; promptly sending appeals to FOIL Appeals Officer; assisting regional FOIL Coordinators, as needed; monitoring voicemail and returning messages; setting up various meetings; and participating in trainings and FOIL calls.

They would assist the Ethics Officer and Corporate Bureau with administrative tasks such as, filing, managing and entering information into databases, scheduling trainings and meetings, distributing documents, issuing ethics certificates, and assisting with finalizing documents.

The Legal Assistant 1 will need to be proficient in the use of Outlook, Excel and GovQA. They will also need to gain a comprehensive understanding of the various programs within DEC, and its overall structure, in order to efficiently and effectively manage FOIL requests.

Salary

• $47,695 - $68,630/year

Qualifications

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), 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 of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Reassignment - Currently in the title and an employee of DEC or

Reinstatement Eligible - Previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis

Transfer Eligible –

One year of permanent competitive service in a title eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law or eligible for transfer under Section 70.4 of the Civil Service Law (of which candidate must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications below).

55-b/55-c Candidates - must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications below and include with resume or application, a copy of the letter from Civil Service which indicates approval for the 55-b/55-c program.

Open competitive minimum qualifications (provided for 55b/c candidates, 70.4 transfer eligible, and NYHELPS):

Two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” below)

OR
an associate degree (or higher) in a paralegal/legal assistant/legal studies 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 one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)

OR
An associate 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) OR Graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required for NYS Bar will be accepted as meeting the educational requirements for this title AND one year of 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 provide both written and verbal comments on their findings; and analyzes and handles routine procedural problems independently with minimal attorney oversight.
Examples of non-qualifying experience: receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, office manager.

Legal Assistant Trainee
This position may also be filled at the Trainee level by appointment of a candidate reachable on the Legal Assistant Trainee list or in a title eligible to transfer to Legal Assistant Trainee 1. If filled as a trainee, the selected candidate must successfully complete a two-year traineeship. Trainees will be required to successfully complete courses in specific areas, in addition to on-the-job training activities, prior to completing the traineeship. All trainees are required to successfully complete six course in paralegal studies and related skills from an accredited college or university. In addition, one or more college or training courses in writing skills will be required.

Other Information

Telecommuting may be available, will be discussed at interview.

We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:

• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more...

For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. DEC is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. DEC embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

How to Apply

Please email/mail your resume to the above. Be sure to include Posting #25-196337 on your resume or it may not accepted. Include a copy of your college transcript. An unofficial copy is acceptable.