Review Vacancy
AgencyEnvironmental Conservation, Department of
TitleLegal Assistant 2 - NY HELPS
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $63361 to $80655 Annually
Duties Description The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is seeking a Legal Assistant 2 to perform a variety of legal tasks within the Corporate Bureau.
The Legal Assistant 2 will work closely with Corporate Bureau attorneys to perform legal research, draft legal memoranda, prepare correspondence, draft litigation documents, assist with regulatory or legislative proposals, and review contracts and other agreements. They will assist the IT Counsel and Ethics Officer with updating databases and spreadsheets, and will assist the Ethics Officer with administering Comprehensive Ethics Training Courses, along with other tasks, as needed.
The Legal Assistant 2 will also assist attorneys with the legal review of records requested under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and serve as a backup FOIL Coordinator for the Records Access Office.
The Legal Assistant 2 should have varied experience with legal research and writing, drafting legal documents, and working closely with attorneys. Contract experience is helpful, along with familiarity with FOIL and GovQA.
Minimum Qualifications 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 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.
Minimum qualifications for NY HELPS appointment:
Either 1: Three years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” below).
Or 2: An associate degree (or higher) in 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) AND one year of experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” below)
Or 3. 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 two years 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 AND 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.
Examples of non-qualifying degrees: Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Liberal Arts, Political Science, Business Administration and Business Management.
Examples of non-qualifying experience: Experience which is limited solely to general clerical or secretarial duties performed in a law office. Important: Non-degree certificates of completion or diplomas awarded by a training institution or company not regionally accredited or accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) or approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) are not qualifying.
Candidates may also be appointed via the following, if applicable:
Reassignment - Currently in the title and an employee of DEC or
Reinstatement Eligible - Previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis
Transfer Eligible -
For 70.1 - One year of permanent competitive service as a Legal Assistant 2
For 70.4 - One year of permanent competitive service at SG-15 or higher and meet the open competitive minimum qualification as noted below:
Note: If there is a viable promotion examination eligible list (three acceptors) for this position, candidates who qualify based on NY HELPS or 70.4 transfer cannot be considered.
Additional Comments Telecommuting may be available, will be discussed at interview.
We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:
• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more...
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.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. DEC is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. DEC embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.
Please be advised, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation does not use E-Verify, and we are unable to provide sponsorship for employment visa statuses (i.e. H-1B, Self-Sponsorship, STEM OPT).
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.