Review Vacancy
TitleLegal Assistant Trainee 1 (NY HELPS)
Bargaining UnitASU - Administrative Services Unit (CSEA)
Salary RangeFrom $49706 to $70034 Annually
Duties Description Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Works with NYSIF’s Office of General Counsel and attorneys in the Legal Collection Unit and Appeals Unit to provide legal support with pre-trial and appellate related activities.
• Review and assist in the preparation of legal cases and appeals, including reviewing materials, communicating with agency staff, service of process, mailing of documents to other parties, and other tasks related to hearings and trials
• Communicate with outside parties to answer routine questions or inquiries related to cases, negotiate preliminary settlements, and email or call outside parties to explain the calculation of monied owed, audit procedures, and requests for payment
• Maintain and oversee calendaring and tracking of cases, including court-related activities and payment agreements, and handling invoices for outside services
• Conduct routine investigations, provide preliminary analysis concerning cases, and use Shepard’s citations and other legal resources to check caselaw is still relevant
• Prepare portions of letters, opinions, briefs, affidavits, affirmations, and other motion-related papers using Adobe Acrobat, Excel and Microsoft Word, and assist in filing those matters with the appropriate judicial body (i.e. New York Courts and Workers’ Compensation Board).
Preferred qualifications:
• Familiarity with Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel
• At least two years working in customer service, preferably in a legal setting, with a focus on easing conflict and providing appropriate resolutions
• Able to document communications with customers and interagency staff effectively and with detail
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize work
Minimum Qualifications For Appointment to Legal Assistant Trainee 1:
• Reachable on current Civil Service eligible list for this title.
• One year of permanent, competitive class service in a title eligible for transfer under Section 70.1. Eligible titles include, but aren’t limited to: Admnv Assistant 1, Office Assnt 2, Program Aide; OR
• High school or high school equivalency diploma AND one year of clerical, administrative, or paraprofessional experience; 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).
*Please note - this is a two-year traineeship leading to the journey level title of Legal Assistant 1, SG-14. During the two-year traineeship, trainees are required to successfully complete courses in paralegal studies and related skills offered by the Department of Civil Service and Office of the New York State Attorney General.
Please be advised that the New York State Insurance Fund does not offer sponsorship for employment visas to employees or potential employees. Candidates sponsored for employment by an organization should be aware of their sponsorship status and the relevant expiration date(s) of that sponsorship before applying to this position.
Additional Comments Please note, the salary range shown includes location pay and/or geographic pay.
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.
Fringe Benefits:
• Competitive Compensation.
• Future Career Growth Potential.
• Open and Supportive Team-Based Environment.
• Plentiful Vacation, Personal, and Sick Leave Accruals.
• Paid State and Federal Holidays.
• Full Medical, Vision, and Dental.
• Retirement Options.
• Possibility of Telecommuting, Flextime, and Alternative Work Schedules.
NY HELPS Program:
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 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.
NYSIF Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) prioritizes and champions diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout our agency. NYSIF provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law. We believe that embracing our differences brings richness, new ideas and experiences to NYSIF, which energizes a creative and innovative work environment. We strive to foster a workplace where diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making process and have ample opportunity for advancement. We are committed to investing the necessary resources and attention to improving the engagement, retention, and promotion of the extraordinary talent we have.
Executive Order 31 commits New York State government to becoming a model employer for people with disabilities, increasing the participation of people with disabilities in state service and ensuring equal access to opportunities. NYSIF is proud to utilize best practices to recruit, hire, retain, and promote career advancement of individuals with disabilities. This includes special focus on current and prospective employees with the most significant disabilities, such as the use of supported employment, individual placement with support services, customized employment, the civil service sections 55/b and 55/c programs, internships, and job shadowing. If you are a person with a disability and wish to request that a reasonable accommodation be provided for you to participate in a job interview, please send an email to NYSIF’s Reasonable Accommodations mailbox at ra@nysif.com.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.