Review Vacancy
AgencyEducation Department, State
TitleLegal Assistant 1, Legal Assistant Trainee 1 Box EXEC-266/00036
Occupational CategoryNo Preference
Bargaining UnitASU - Administrative Services Unit (CSEA)
Salary RangeFrom $56506 to $68630 Annually
Duties Description The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Counsel is seeking candidates for a Legal Assistant 1 position. This Office provides legal counsel and support to the Regents, Commissioner, and Department staff to help them establish education policy and ensure compliance with the law. The Legal Assistant 1 will act as a public facing intermediary between the public and the Office’s staff attorneys. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Serve as the primary point of contact for incoming requests to the Office of Counsel; coordinate workflow and next steps for attorney review; prepare and maintain accurate files, correspondence, and database records;
• Handle intake, preliminary review, and multi-stage processing of charter petitions; maintain and file database records; manage deadlines and review calendars; draft referral memos and correspondence; and support staff attorneys through the petition review process;
• Assemble charter files for attorney review; assist with drafting monthly Regents Items and Votes – including charter petitions and assumed name requests – and coordinate internal review prior to submission to the Regents Office;
• Organize, store, and manage consent and charter files; ensure compliance with records retention schedules; coordinate transfers to the State Archives; and fulfill attorney requests for archived materials;
• Assist with general office duties, including phone coverage, administrative rotations, and team projects;
• Assist attorneys with record retrieval for Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests for consent and/or education corporation files and preparing for review and completion in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; and
• Perform special projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications 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:
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.
*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.
Legal Assistant Trainee 1: High school or high school equivalency diploma and one year of clerical, administrative, or paraprofessional experience.
Legal Assistant Trainee 2: High school or high school equivalency diploma and two years of clerical, administrative, or paraprofessional experience, and six courses in the areas of Intro to Law, and Legal Research and Writing (verification of required coursework is at the appointing agencies discretion).
*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 SALARY GRADE 12 or above deemed eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law and possess an Associate's Degree in a paralegal or legal assistant program or a certificate in a paralegal or legal assistant program from a regionally accredited college or university or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Section 70.1 Transfer to Legal Assistant Trainee 1: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SALARY GRADE 9 or above deemed eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.
Section 70.1 Transfer to Legal Assistant Trainee 2: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SALARY GRADE 11 or above deemed eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.
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 Legal Assistant 1 if they are a current NYS employee with one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SALARY GRADE 12 or higher AND have standing on the Legal Assistant 1 eligible list AND possess an associate's degree (or higher) in a paralegal/legal assistant program OR a certificate in a paralegal/legal assistant program where either the degree or certificate was granted from a regionally accredited college or university, or college or university accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
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
Provisional Appointment: In the absence of an eligible list with three or more candidates willing to accept a position, a temporary provisional appointment may be considered. For provisional appointment, candidates must have an associate’s degree in a paralegal or legal assistant program or a certificate in a paralegal or legal assistant program from a regionally accredited college or university or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Provisional candidates must take the examination for Legal Assistant 1 when it is next offered and must be reachable on the resulting eligible list to maintain employment.
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 permanent, competitive appointment or a permanent, non-competitive appointment. This may be a temporary provisional appointment. Provisional candidates must take the examination for Legal Assistant 1 when it is next offered and must be reachable on the resulting eligible list to maintain employment. 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.
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:
• $47,695 (Trainee 1- NS equated to SG-11)
• $53,413 (Trainee 2- NS equated to SG-13)
• $56,506 (Full Performance level SG-14)
This position leads to a maximum salary of $68,630 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
APPLICATION: Qualified candidates should send a resume and letter of interest by April 10, 2026 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 (EXEC-266/00036) 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.
New York State Education Department (NYSED) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity, prior conviction records, prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications, or sealed records.
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.
Name Office of Human Resources Management
Email Address omsjobs@nysed.gov
Address
Street NYS Education Department
89 Washington Avenue, OHRM, Room 528 EB
Notes on ApplyingAPPLICATION: Qualified candidates should send a resume and letter of interest by April 10, 2026 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 (EXEC-266/00036) 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.