Job Description

<h3>Minimum Qualifications</h3><p>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, 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 an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.</p><ul><li><strong>Non Competitive Minimum Qualifications</strong></li></ul><p>Two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see \xe2\x80\x9cdefinition\xe2\x80\x9d 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.</p><p>Examples of non-qualifying experience: receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, office manager.</p><ul><li><strong>Minimum Qualification Substitution</strong></li></ul><ul><li>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)</li></ul><ul><li>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)</li></ul><ul><li>Graduated 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.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS</strong></li></ul><p>Current NYS employee eligible for transfer in accordance with Civil Service Laws, Rules, and Regulations OR Reachable on the appropriate eligible list for this title and location</p><h3>Duties Description</h3><p>Under the direction and supervision of an attorney and/or Legal Assistant 2, the Legal Assistant 1 will provide paralegal support services. The incumbent may perform any or all of the following:</p><ol><li>Provide the necessary support to the Department's legal staff to ensure that the legal work of the Office of Counsel is accomplished efficiently and in a timely manner.</li><li>Drafting legal documents such as affidavits and correspondence also prepare responses to program managers on routine legal matters; Handling cases to determine case status and legal authority.</li><li>Prepares, organizes, and maintain case files, records and case documentation. Secures information on court sessions and calendars, administrative hearing calendars, and on time-limited documentation and keeps legal staff informed of deadlines.</li><li>Research and analyzes a wide variety of legal sources. Complete routine investigative work for attorney review. Uses Shepard's Citations or other reference sources to check the cases cited to ensure that the case law is still relevant.</li><li>Performs preliminary background work for less complex cases or for administrative review processes.</li><li>Provide necessary support required to carry out the Department’s responsibilities to local governments including evaluating incoming local enactments against model enactments to assure the proposed enactments are accurate, complete and meet established legal requirements.</li><li>Review routine draft technical documents, such as forms, surety bonds, FAQs and TSB-Ms.</li><li>Assists in the Department’s review and processing of Freedom of Information requests. Responds to telephone calls/inquiries from taxpayers and their representatives regarding Freedom of Information requests.</li><li>Research matters and produce reports including reports on open and closed files.</li><li>Follow Department rules and Division procedures and policy, including, but not limited to; Code of Conduct, ethics practices, security and confidentiality rules.</li><li>Adhere to the Department's time and attendance policies.</li></ol><h3>Additional Comments</h3><p>Comments New York State is an equal opportunity employer. It’s the policy of the state of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or an arrest or criminal conviction record unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.</p><p>Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.</p>