Legal Assistant 1

The ability to fill this position is subject to DOB guidelines for processing personnel transactions. Note: A budget waiver is not required to fill positions via transfer to lateral or downward level positions within the same Department or to change line items within the same funding source. The selected candidate must be eligible for appointment in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Law, Rules, and Regulations. If mandatory rehiring lists exist for this title, appointment other than reassignment must be made from these lists. If there are no acceptors from these lists, appointment may be made using the following:

a) Employees who are currently serving in the same title are eligible for reassignment without change in title or status;
b) Employees eligible for transfer.
c)Candidates reachable on the appropriate eligible list for this title and location
d) This position may be filled as a two year traineeship.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Under the direction and supervision of an attorney and/or Legal Assistant 2, the Legal Assistant 1 will provide paralegal support services. The incumbent may perform any or all of the following:

1. Provide the necessary support to the Department's legal staff to ensure that the legal work of the Office of Counsel is accomplished efficiently and in a timely manner.

2. Drafting legal documents such as affidavits and correspondence also prepare responses to program managers on routine legal matters; Handling cases to determine case status and legal authority.

3. Prepares, organizes, and maintain case files, records and case documentation. Secures information on court sessions and calendars, administrative hearing calendars, and on time-limited documentation and keeps legal staff informed of deadlines.

4. Research and analyzes a wide variety of legal sources. Complete routine investigative work for attorney review. Uses Shepard's Citations or other reference sources to check the cases cited to ensure that the case law is still relevant.

5. Performs preliminary background work for less complex cases or for administrative review processes.

6. Provide necessary support required to carry out the Department’s responsibilities to local governments including evaluating incoming local enactments against model enactments to assure the proposed enactments are accurate, complete and meet established legal requirements.

7. Review routine draft technical documents, such as forms, surety bonds, FAQs and TSB-Ms.

8. Assists in the Department’s review and processing of Freedom of Information requests. Responds to telephone calls/inquiries from taxpayers and their representatives regarding Freedom of Information requests.

9. Research matters and produce reports including reports on open and closed files.

10. Follow Department rules and Division procedures and policy, including, but not limited to; Code of Conduct, ethics practices, security and confidentiality rules.

11. Adhere to the Department's time and attendance policies.