Review Vacancy
TitleSenior Attorney (NY HELPS)
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $96336 to $121413 Annually
Duties Description The APA Office of Counsel is seeking candidates for an attorney position. This position may be filled at the Senior Attorney (SG-25) level. The attorney in this role will serve as a transactional and regulatory law generalist, with a portfolio centered on Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) compliance, contract review, procurement law, and related government operations and ethics matters.
Given APA’s unique statutory framework and mandate, the successful candidate will possess familiarity with the legal landscape governing land use agencies, environmental permitting, and New York Public Officers Law or the demonstrated ability to learn new areas of law and process and advise various stakeholders on those matters effectively.
At the Senior Attorney level, and within the developmental scope of the traineeship, the attorney in this position will be expected to perform duties that include:
Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Administration
• Serve as, or support the agency’s Records Access Officer and/or Records Management Officer,
• Oversee, manage and respond to document requests such as subpoenas and FOIL requests
• Review agency records for responsiveness and applicable exemptions under Public Officers Law, and draft determinations consistent with legal requirements
• Advise program staff on records retention and disclosure obligations to facilitate FOIL compliance and record retention compliance
• Monitor developments in FOIL caselaw and Committee on Open Government guidance relevant to agency operations
• Answer inquiries from the general public concerning document requests
Contracts and Procurement
• Review, draft, and negotiate a range of contracts including professional services agreements, interagency agreements, memoranda of understanding, and cooperative agreements
• Provide legal guidance on contracts, grants and procurement methods under State Finance Law, including competitive bidding, requests for proposals, discretionary purchasing thresholds, and compliance with federal and state funding conditions
• Advise on vendor responsibility determinations, protests, and procurement integrity requirements
• Support compliance with relevant procurement requirements, such as the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) program
• Advise program managers and operations staff on contract terms, risk allocation, insurance requirements, and compliance with Office of General Services (OGS) and Office of State Comptroller (OSC) requirements
• Coordinate with OSC pre-audit requirements and ensure contracts are properly authorized in accordance with state finance law and agency delegations
• Maintain and update standard form agreements and contract templates for recurring agency needs
General Legal Support
• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda of law, advisory opinions, and legal correspondence on agency regulatory and operational questions, such as evidentiary questions, burden of proof standards, and procedural issues arising in administrative proceedings
• Review proposed legislation and regulations for impact on agency operations
• Assist in preparing agency staff and program personnel for appearances in contested permit proceedings
• Coordinate witness preparation, exhibit organization, and documentary evidence compilation for administrative proceedings
• Monitor and summarize legal decisions involving the APA and comparable land use agencies for use in agency guidance and policy development
• Support the General Counsel and agency leadership on special projects as assigned
Preferred Qualifications
The following qualifications are preferred but not required. Candidates with these skills are encouraged to apply regardless of prior government experience:
• Familiarity with FOIL, FOIA, or public records law in New York or another jurisdiction
• Knowledge of or interest in environmental, land use, or administrative law
• Experience with government contracts, procurement, or public finance law
• Experience drafting policy memoranda, legal opinions, or transactional documents in a government or regulatory context
• Strong research and writing skills with ability to communicate complex legal issues to non-attorney audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines, including program staff, administrators, and external partners, in a team-oriented environment
• Experience providing solution-oriented legal guidance to internal clients, with a service-minded approach that supports agency operations rather than simply identifying legal risk
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines across multiple active matters while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail
• Demonstrated initiative in identifying issues, proposing improvements to legal or administrative processes, and following through on assignments with minimal supervision
• Positive, collegial approach to legal work, with a willingness to assist colleagues and adapt to evolving agency needs in a small Agency setting
• Experience working in or with a regulatory, permitting, or land use agency, or in a rural or geographically distinct community context, is a plus but not required
Minimum Qualifications NY HELPS Open-Competitive Qualifications, SG-25: 12 months as an Assistant Attorney 3, OR admission to the NYS Bar and 24 months of subsequent satisfactory legal experience..
In addition, open competitive candidates should have the selective criteria that is listed within the duties description.
Alternate Minimum Qualifications:
The candidate may also be eligible for appointment to this position if they meet any of the following minimum qualifications.
Reassignment Qualifications: You must be a current Adirondack Park Agency employee and have one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Senior Attorney, G-25; if you have less than one year, you must be reachable on the current eligible list for this location if one exists.
52.6 Transfer Qualifications to Senior Attorney, G-25: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer under Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law.
Specialized Requirements Beyond the Minimum Qualifications Needed for 52.6 Transfer: Candidates must be admitted to the New York State Bar Association, be licensed to practice law in New York State, and have two years of post-Bar legal experience to be appointed to the Senior Attorney, G-25; AND legal experience in a General Counsel’s office at a local, state, or federal government agency; litigation experience, preferably in administrative law and New York state civil procedure; excellent interpersonal skills, including demonstrated success working collaboratively with colleagues, clients, direct reports, and/or supervisors; exceptional organization and project management skills and ability to work independently, including demonstrated experience managing diverse workload with competing deadlines; demonstrated success in strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills; excellent attention to detail; strong work ethic; strong oral and written communication skills and strong customer service skills.
70.1 Transfer Qualifications to Senior Attorney, G-25: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.
Reinstatement Under Rule 5.4: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they were previous permanent New York State employees who resigned their positions may be reinstated to their former positions, or to positions to which they were eligible for transfer or reassignment without further examination. Employees separated from their positions may be reinstated within one year of the date of their separation. Employees separated from their positions who have also been separated from state service for more than one year may be reinstated upon approval by the state Civil Service Commission.
55-b/c Qualifications: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they meet these qualifications: you must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LLB or JD degree.
Information about the Workers with Disabilities 55-b and the Veterans with Disabilities employment program 55-c can be found at 55b/c Recruitment Resources Center (ny.gov).
Note: Non-competitive refers to not competing in an examination; the appointment will be competitive.
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 mean no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications for the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In June 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.
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 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.
Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status.
Additional Comments Salary Grade: SG-25. The starting salary for this position is $96,336. The salary range is $96,336 to $121,413.
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.
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@oer.ny.gov.
The State of NY offers a work-life balance and generous benefits package, including:
- Holiday & Paid Time Off
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
- Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
- Affordable Health Care Options
- Family dental and vision benefits at no additional costs
- NYS Deferred Compensation Plan
- This position my offer the opportunity for a part-time telecommuting schedule
- Additional items discussed during interview
Telework may be available 5 out of 10 days per pay period. Subject to current policies and procedures, along with Supervisor approval.
The Adirondack Park Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Name Chloe Ballestas, HR Director
Email Address HumanResources@apa.ny.gov
Address
PO Box 99
Notes on ApplyingIf you feel you meet the minimum qualifications and Agency operating needs and are interested in being considered for this vacancy, please submit your resume, proof of NYS Bar Admission, cover letter demonstrating how you meet the stated minimum qualifications; references and recent writing samples representing the candidate’s efforts, not those of a reviewer.
Please submit your application materials to HumanResources@apa.ny.gov. Be sure to include Vacancy #215063 on your resume and also in the subject line of the email. It is the responsibility of each applicant to accurately describe their experience and demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications.