Review Vacancy
AgencyAttorney General, Office of the
TitleLegal Assistant 1 (NY HELPS) - Civil Recoveries (Student Recoveries Unit)
Bargaining UnitASU - Administrative Services Unit (CSEA)
Salary RangeFrom $54860 to $66634 Annually
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.
Individuals certified eligible for the 55-B/55-C program under the Governor's Program to Hire Persons/Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to Section 55-B/55-C of the Civil Service Law are encouraged to apply. To be considered, 55-B/55-C candidates must provide a copy of their letter of eligibility with their response and meet the non-competitive qualifications listed below.
NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Candidates must have a minimum of two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” below); OR
• An associate degree (or higher) in in a 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); OR
• 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) and one year of experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” below).
Substitution: 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.
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. Non-qualifying experience includes receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, and office manager.
CURRENT NYS EMPLOYEE:
Reachable on the Department of Civil Service eligible list for Legal Assistant 1 or permanent or contingent-permanent status as a Legal Assistant 1 or eligible to transfer.
Duties Description In close association with an attorney or attorneys, Legal Assistants perform a variety of paralegal activities that require formal education and experience. Incumbents compile and organize files and documentation; prepare and assist in the preparation of legal documents and forms; catalog information; update databases or spreadsheets; and prepare correspondence.
The incumbent for this position will be in the Student Recoveries Unit of the Civil Recoveries Bureau and may perform any or all of the following duties:
• Prepare legal documents such as complaints, discovery demands and responses, motion papers, affidavits, judgments, satisfactions of judgments, and proposed orders in support of Collection Specialists, Legal Assistants and Attorneys in the Student Recoveries Unit.
• Conduct legal research, analyze case law, and check citations utilizing department research software.
• Independently prepare demand letters, negotiate repayment programs or prepare summonses and all other paperwork which must accompany the commencement of lawsuits.
• Possess a working knowledge of the judgment enforcement provisions of Article 52 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules.
• Draft information subpoenas, restraining notices, income executions, and executions upon real and personal property, as well as any other documents that are incidental to performing judgment enforcement on behalf of the Student Recoveries Unit.
• Perform and analyze reports from the Student Recoveries Unit database in order to develop an efficient prioritization of judgment enforcement for the Unit’s large volume of judgment accounts.
• Contact and effectively communicate with debtors, county clerks, court clerks, third-party subpoena recipients, banks, debtors’ employers, and sheriffs’ departments in furtherance of the Unit’s judgment enforcement efforts.
• Effectively communicate with Unit attorneys to develop strategies for, and effectively execute judgment enforcement.
• Meet all deadlines and monitor all time periods incidental to each judgment enforcement account.
• Skip trace and asset search on pre-judgment and post-judgment accounts.
• Respond to bankruptcy filings by debtors by executing all necessary administrative tasks to note the bankruptcy filing on the Unit database and to notify the client of its responsibilities during the various stages of the bankruptcy proceeding.
• Respond to bankruptcy filings by preparing proofs of claim for submission to bankruptcy court.
• Monitor bankruptcy cases utilizing the bankruptcy court’s telephonic case-monitoring system and/or PACER reports and taking appropriate action as the bankruptcy case progresses.
• Function as backup to handle the Student Recoveries call line when needed.
• Become familiar with Silvercar, Word, LEXIS and other bureau case management packages.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional Comments Careers with the State offer multiple benefits including paid vacation leave (13+ days per year), sick leave, paid State holidays off, health insurance including vision & dental, entry into the NYS retirement (pension) system, education and training, eligibility for public student loan forgiveness, and job stability with promotional opportunities. Workplace flexibilities include multiple options for employees including telecommuting (up to two days per week) and alternative work schedules.
The agency's hours of operation are Monday through Friday, between 8:00 am and 5:30 pm (37.5 hours/week).
Scheduling determinations are dependent upon the needs of the Bureau/Unit and will be communicated during interviews.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address HR.Recruitment@ag.ny.gov
Address
Street NYS Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol
Notes on ApplyingIn your submission, you must provide sufficient information to determine from your resume and/or cover letter to determine that you meet the minimum qualifications stated above. If a certificate or degree is required to demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications, you must provide proof that you hold the required certificate or degree. Your degree or college credit must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The OAG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to workplace diversity.
For more information about the Attorney General's Office, visit: www.ag.ny.gov.