Position Information

NY HELPNo

AgencyParks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Office of

TitleAssociate Attorney

Occupational CategoryLegal

Salary Grade28

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $112528 to $138203 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Schedule

Workweek Other (see below)

"Other" Explanation Monday-Friday. Work hours will be 8AM to 4PM, 8:30AM to 4:30PM, or 9AM to 5PM.

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 8 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? No

Location

County New York

Street Address 625 Broadway

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12238

Job Specifics

Duties Description The Office of the General Counsel in the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) provides legal advice, assistance, and guidance to Agency programs and administrative support divisions. State Parks’ programs and divisions are as varied as its many parks and historic sites. They include Business Innovation, Capital Projects, Concessions, Emergency Management, Environmental Stewardship and Planning, Finance, Grants, Health & Safety, Historic Preservation, Marine Services, Park Police, Partnerships, Real Property, and the New York State Snowmobile Program, among others.

Attorneys within the Office of the General Counsel perform the following general tasks: provide legal counsel and recommendations to Executive and management teams; communicating legal advice to State Parks’ staff; draft, review and approve contracts; assist in development of internal policies and procedures; develop legislative and regulatory proposals; interpret laws, rules, regulations and policies; conduct legal research; analyze legal opinions, briefs, and other documents; and advise on Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests, ethics inquiries, and litigation demands.

Under the direction of the General Counsel, the candidate will provide legal services and support to multiple divisions and programs within State Parks including but not limited to program areas focused on park operations.
The primary duties may include:

• Review and advise on information technology agreements, intellectual property licensing and other agreements related to data use.
• Review and draft terms and conditions for park use/special event permits; provide legal guidance to programs managing reservations, passes and camping (including, for example, ReserveAmerica, the Empire Pass and golf courses).
• Review and advise on First and Fourth Amendment issues, including questions relating to free speech, assembly, searches and seizures, among others.
• Assist in audit and compliance actions for assigned program areas; review and advise on policies, procedures, guidance, and litigation related to assigned program areas, and research novel legal issues to provide recommended courses of action.
• Provide subject matter supervision to senior attorneys in assigned program areas, including training and the review and discussion of applicable laws.
• Review and comment on proposed legislation affecting Agency programs and operations and participate in the drafting of Agency regulations in compliance with SAPA requirements.
• Provide legal assistance and advice to Emergency Management Bureau Staff related to preparedness and response; advise on compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations; and assist in the preparation of legal documents related to disasters, emergencies, and other incidents.
• Advise Directors and Regional Managers in the Health & Safety and Water Safety bureaus on matters related to occupational health and safety regulations and laws and patron risk management; assist in compliance reviews and investigations concerning safety issues under the Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) Act; review documents such as compliance plans, safety policies and trainings; and provide legal guidance regarding federal aviation laws and regulations regarding unmanned aircraft systems.
• Provide legal counsel to the Marine Services Bureau, which oversees various aspects of boating on state waters including law enforcement, safety education, and public vessel inspections, by interpreting applicable laws and regulations, drafting policies, recommending programmatic guidance, and overseeing grants.
• Advise law enforcement personnel of the New York State Park Police and Park Rangers on legal matters relating to law enforcement reports and criminal procedures and policies; research case law that may impact criminal investigations or law enforcement; and assist in developing trainings related to criminal and constitutional law.
• Provide legal counsel to the Snowmobiles Bureau, which promotes the safe and proper use of snowmobiles for recreation and commerce throughout New York State by encouraging their use and development and minimizing detrimental effects of such use upon the environment, by interpreting applicable laws and regulations, drafting policies, recommending programmatic guidance, and overseeing grants.
• Advise Agency program managers on interpretation of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law and its regulations (Title 9 NYCRR, Subtitle I), the Navigation Law, and the Environmental Conservation Law.
• Assist the FOIL Appeals Officer in drafting decisions on appeal in a timely manner.
• Provide legal research and guidance on other program areas and topics as requested.
• Train and supervise lower-level attorneys.

Minimum Qualifications FOR PERMANENT APPOINTMENT:
To be considered for permanent appointment, candidates must be reachable on the current Civil Service eligible list for this title or be eligible for reinstatement or transfer in accordance with Civil Service law.

Note: The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades. A comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.

FOR PERMANENT APPOINTMENT VIA SECTION 52.7 (NCP):
In accordance with Section 52.7 of the Civil Service Law, this notice advises all employees of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) of its intention to conduct a non-competitive promotion (NCP) to the position of Associate Attorney with the Office of the General Counsel in the Albany main office.

A permanent appointment may be made via NCP of an applicant from the established promotion field who meets the position's minimum qualifications if all requirements of an NCP are met. Said requirements include that there three or fewer qualified candidates from within the promotion field interested in the position who meet the promotion minimum qualifications.

The promotion field for the Associate Attorney position consists of OPRHP employees who have one year of permanent competitive, non-competitive (NY HELPS), or 55b/c service as a Senior Attorney or Senior Attorney (Various Parenthetics).

Please Note: In order to be considered for appointment via non-competitive promotion, candidates serving in the established promotion field must not have failed the last two holdings of the Associate Attorney promotion exam.

FOR PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT:
In the absence of a viable eligible list with three or more candidates willing to accept appointment a provisional appointment may be considered. For a provisional appointment candidates must have one year of permanent competitive, non-competitive (NY HELPS), or 55b/c service as a Senior Attorney and/or Senior Attorney (Various Parenthetics). The appointed candidate must take, pass and be reachable on the next holding of the examination to be appointed permanently.

NOTE: In accordance with Civil Service Law, provisional service immediately prior to a permanent appointment to this title is now credited towards the completion of probation upon permanent appointment.

NOTE: Admission to the New York State Bar and current registration to practice law in New York State is required for continued employment. Disbarment or loss of registration shall result in termination or suspension of employment.

Additional Comments Preferred Qualifications:
Prior experience in advising a government agency, or a familiarity with legal matters surrounding governmental operations and programming, including policy drafting, contracting, and regulatory writing, and a willingness to address associated legal issues, as they arise is preferred but not required.

BENEFITS:
Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including:
Paid Time Off:
• 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.
• Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development.
Health Care Benefits:
• Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs.
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits:
• New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
• NYS Deferred Compensation
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Paid Parental Leave

To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

How to Apply

Name Personnel Office/KW

Telephone

Fax

Email Address Employment@parks.ny.gov

Address

Street Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12238

 

Notes on ApplyingWhen applying, provide cover letter explaining how your experience will prepare you to succeed in the position, a resume, and three professional references.

All documents must be received by March 16, 2026, and submitted via email to employment@parks.ny.gov.

Please use the email subject line: Associate Attorney - VID210513.
Failure to do so may result in a delay of processing your application.

If you have previous or current employment at a NYS agency, to be considered for this position, a review of your state history is needed. Please provide the last four digits of your social security number in your email response or on your resume. If you are not comfortable providing this information in your response, a representative from our office may contact you.