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The NYC Law Department is seeking qualified candidates for a Paralegal, Level 2, position in its Appeals Division. The selected candidate would join the division’s Legal Support Unit, which prepares notices of appeal and records on appeal. While the division's work involves a range of subject matters, under the instruction of a division attorney(s) or higher level staff, the selected candidate will assist with various tasks of varying degrees of difficulty which may include but is not limited to the following:
Creating an appellate record (or appendix) by examining electronic and paper files to locate and compile relevant documents, while communicating with the City’s trial counsel, opposing counsel, and court reporters as necessary.
Create a cover and verify the caption of the case, and create an informative table of contents.
Work with the Unit’s supervisor, the assigned Appeals attorney, and attorneys from the Law Department’s trial divisions or other City agencies to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the record.
To ensure accurate and timely notices of appeal, which are crucial to give a court jurisdiction over an appeal, when required, notices of appeal will need to be prepared on short notice, in close collaboration with attorneys.
To ensure that each record or appendix satisfies the requirements of the various federal and state courts in which the division practices, this work requires independent judgment and attention to detail.
Some of the physical activities performed and environmental conditions experienced include lifting and carrying boxes and files; climbing stairs; and traveling throughout the City on all types of public transportation, and/or walking in all kinds of weather, often carrying files.
Preferred Skills
Candidates MUST possess at least one of these Additional Qualification Requirements for Level 2:
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and either (a) 1 year of full-time satisfactory experience acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or (b) Paralegal Certification obtained in the United States from an accredited program or a program approved by the American Bar Association; or
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college including or supplemented by a combination of 12 semester credits in U.S. History, U.S. Political Science, U.S. Law, U.S. Paralegal Studies, U.S. Criminal Justice, U.S. Urban Studies, International Relations and/or U.S. Legal Studies; or
An associate degree or completion of 60 credits from an accredited college and three years of full-time satisfactory experience acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or
A four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and five years of full-time satisfactory experience acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services.
Applicable to all applicants:
Experience which is primarily legal secretarial or includes only incidental paralegal (legal assistant) services is not acceptable.
To be acceptable, experience in paralegal (legal assistant) services must have involved the American Legal System.
Additional Information
All applicants MUST be permanent in the Paralegal Aide civil service title to be considered for this position. This means candidates must have taken and passed the Paralegal Aide civil service exam, and have been appointed from the Paralegal Aide civil service list. This prerequisite is required for this position. Candidates that have taken the most recently given Paralegal Aide civil service exam may be considered for this position providing they are reachable on the civil service list. Applicants that do not meet this prerequisite will not be considered for this position.
PARALEGAL AIDE - 30080
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); or
2. An associate degree or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and two years of full-time satisfactory experience, acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or
3. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of full-time satisfactory experience, acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or
4. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1”, “2” or “3” above. Paralegal Certification obtained in the United States from an accredited program or from a program approved by the American Bar Association can be substituted for 12 months of experience. Undergraduate credit can be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 12 months of experience. However, all candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization.
To be acceptable, experience in paralegal (legal assistant) services must have involved the American Legal System.
Experience which is primarily legal secretarial or includes only incidental paralegal (legal assistant) services is not acceptable.
Special Note:
Individuals must have one additional year of pertinent paralegal experience or have a baccalaureate degree in addition to the requirements listed above to be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II duties and pay of Paralegal Aide.
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
