Position Information

NY HELPYes

AgencyEducation Department, State

TitleLegal Assistant 1, Legal Assistant Trainee 1 (NY HELPS), Box PIMS-1174/19360

Occupational CategoryNo Preference

Salary Grade14

Bargaining UnitASU - Administrative Services Unit (CSEA)

Salary RangeFrom $59049 to $71719 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Contingent Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 9 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

Location

County Albany

Street Address Office of Performance Improvement and Management Services

Office of State Review

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12234

Job Specifics

Duties Description The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Performance Improvement and Management Services is seeking candidates for a Legal Assistant 1 position in the Office of State Review (OSR). The incumbent of this position will assist the New York State Review Officer (SRO) in reviewing appealed decisions of impartial hearing officers concerning the identification, evaluation, program, or placement of children who have, or are suspected of having, an educational disability. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Organize and conduct an initial review of documents for accuracy, compliance with Part 279, and completeness and prepare summary for supervisory staff;
• Provide telephone assistance to parties with questions regarding compliance with appeal procedures in Part 279;
• Review and organize documents and other evidence submitted by parties into appeal files;
• Open, close and archive appeal files and update computerized docket database or case management/electronic filing system accordingly;
• Prepare, review and edit legal correspondence as directed or authorized by legal staff;
• Assist legal and educator staff members with proof reading and editing of final draft decisions to SRO, ensuring that the draft decisions meet legal citation, record citation, and accessibility requirements;
• Gather complete information, including fiscal and statistical data, from a variety of sources and prepare preliminary analysis;
• Identify significant state or Federal legislation affecting education programs;
• Prepare record certification documents for judicial review of administrative records;
• Assist legal staff with tracking pending litigation using through electronic research databases, independently research and track status of pending cases under litigation in U.S. District Courts alerting all pertinent staff members of status; and
• Perform additional duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications NY HELPS
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 (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 of 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.

NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:

• For appointment to Legal Assistant 1: Two years of full-time experience* as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” 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. Examples of non-qualifying experience: receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, office manager.

*Substitution: An associate degree (or higher) in paralegal/legal assistant/legal studies program OR a certificate in a paralegal/legal assistant/legal studies program where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) OR 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) OR graduation 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.

• For appointment to Legal Assistant Trainee 1: High school or high school equivalency diploma and one year of clerical, administrative, or paraprofessional experience**

**Substitution: An associate degree (or higher) in any field, where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).


COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Reassignment: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service as a Legal Assistant 1.

Eligible List Appointment: Candidates must be reachable on the Civil Service eligible list for this title. If you are on the Civil Service eligible list for this title, you may receive a canvass letter. You must complete and return it as instructed on the letter.

Section 70.1 Transfer to Legal Assistant 1: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-12 or above deemed eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law. Candidates must also possess two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant OR An associate degree (or higher) in paralegal/legal assistant/legal studies program or a certificate in a paralegal/legal assistant/legal studies program where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) OR 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) OR graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required for NYS Bar will be accepted as meeting the educational and experience required for transfer to this title.

Section 70.1 Transfer to Legal Assistant Trainee 1: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-09 or above deemed eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.


Section 70.4 Transfer to Legal Assistant Trainee 1: Candidates may be eligible for nomination for transfer under Section 70.4 of the Civil Service Law to this title if they are a current NYS employee with one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-09 or higher AND have standing on the eligible list for this title.

Section 70.4 Transfer to Legal Assistant 1: Candidates may be eligible for nomination for transfer under Section 70.4 of the Civil Service Law to this title if they are a current NYS employee with one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-12 or higher AND have standing on the eligible list for this title.


For information regarding the transfer options of your current title, please visit the Civil Service Career Mobility Office Website. https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/title-search/index.cfm

55b/c Appointment: This position is eligible for 55b/c designation and candidates with 55b/c eligibility are encouraged to apply. Candidates must possess a current 55b/c eligibility letter and meet the minimum qualifications.

It is essential that candidates clearly and concisely indicate exactly how they meet the above minimum qualifications in their resume. Failure to show how you meet the minimum qualifications above may result in disqualification and removal from consideration.

Additional Comments CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This will be a contingent permanent, competitive or non-competitive appointment. For 55b/c appointment, candidates must possess the minimum qualifications, a current 55b/c eligibility letter and are subject to verification of applicant eligibility. Promotions and transfers may change appointees’ negotiating unit. Candidates should be aware that changes in negotiating units may affect their salary, insurance, and other benefits.

Verification of education and experience will be required at the time of interview for all candidates.

This position allows for the opportunity to telecommute up to 30% each bi-weekly pay period and is granted at the discretion of the supervisor and the appointing office.

Federal law may impose additional requirements or restrictions regarding positions that receive federal funding.


This position may be filled as a traineeship. The starting salaries for this position are outlined below. For current New York State employees, salary is based on the candidate’s salary at the time of hire. Candidates appointed at the trainee level will be required to successfully complete the traineeship to advance to the full performance level title and salary.

Current starting salaries:

• $49,841 (Trainee 1- NS equated to SG-11)
• $55,817 (Trainee 2- NS equated to SG-13)
• $59,049 (Full Performance level SG-14)

This position leads to a maximum salary of $71,719 based on annual performance advances and traineeship advances. 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


Interested in a job with New York State, but don’t know where to start?

Visit these links for information on working for New York State:
• https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/
• https://www.cs.ny.gov/pio/publications/gettingajob.pdf

Generous benefits of working for New York State, including, but not limited to, the following:

Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays annually.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave in year one, increasing to 20+ days with additional years of service.
• Five (5) days of paid personal leave annually.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave annually for PEF/CSEA and eight (8) days paid sick leave annually for M/C.
• Annual professional leave and educational leave opportunities for eligible staff.

Health Care Benefits
• Eligible employees and dependents can choose from a variety of affordable and generous health insurance programs.
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits
• Enrollment in the New York State pension system which has earned the distinction of being one of the best-managed and best-funded plans in the nation OR Optional Retirement Defined Contribution Plan with 8% salary match (eligibility requirements apply).
• NYS Deferred Compensation and an exclusive 403(b) Optional Retirement Savings Plan.
• Paid Parental Leave for all employees and Paid Family Leave (M/C Only).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Eligibility for various life insurance options.

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

How to Apply

Name Office of Human Resources Management

Telephone (518) 474-5215

Fax (518) 486-5631

Email Address OMSJobs@nysed.gov

Address

Street NYS Education Department

89 Washington Avenue, OHRM, Room 528 EB

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12234

 

Notes on ApplyingAPPLICATION: Qualified candidates should send a resume and letter of interest by September 29, 206, to OMSJobs@nysed.gov (email submissions are preferred). Your resume must clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. You must include the Box number (PIMS-1174/19360) of the position in the subject line of your email and cover letter to ensure receipt of your application. Links to application materials will not be accepted (i.e., Google Docs). Your social security number may be required to confirm your eligibility.