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The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.
Our core purpose is to protect public health and serve impartial justice through forensic science and medicine. We exist to provide answers in support of families and communities during times of profound need.
The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.
- Commitment: Dedicated to the mission at all times
- Accountability: Responsible to each other and the community
- Resilience: Adapt in the face of adversity
- Excellence: Achieve and maintain the highest quality
- Service: Innovate to meet evolving needs
Under the direction of the General Counsel and other attorneys within the OCME Legal Department, with latitude for independent judgment and decision making, the selected candidate will assist the OCME Legal Department with various administrative tasks and substantive assignments. Duties will include, but not be limited to the following:
- Work with Legal Department staff with the review of requests for records, photographs, and expert review of tissue specimens.
- Assist in coordinating communication with local District Attorney Offices pertaining to requests for medical examiner records for cases under their jurisdiction (homicides).
- Assist personnel with resolving day-to-day intra-agency issues, including but not limited to, requests for guidance from the Records, Evidence and Identification Departments.
- Assist with calls from the public and various outside attorneys who are seeking information, guidance, and/or records.
- Conduct basic legal research and analysis of local, state and federal legislation, statutes, and case law.
- Assist in drafting correspondence, subpoenas, and letters of reply.
- Assist in timely notification to analysts within the DNA Laboratory of various Court Orders.
- Communicate with next-of-kin on a variety of administrative matters.
- Prepare Agency responses to Freedom of Information Law requests and assist in updating information in the NYC Open Data Portal.
- Assist Agency liaison to the New York City Conflict of Interests Board.
- Assist in preparation of Agency Counsel travel memos.
- Assist in reviewing and managing inquiries relating to research and surveillance activity.
- Assist attorneys on litigation matters and other projects in the Legal Department.
- Assist with processing mail received by the Legal Department.
- Other duties as assigned.
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.
