Legal Assistant​/Trainee - Albany; NY-HELPS

Overview

Duties Description
The New York State Department of Labor Counsel's office is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and motivated Legal Assistant I to provide essential support to our dedicated team of attorneys. This role is critical in ensuring the efficient operation of our legal functions, contributing directly to the Department's mission of protecting and advancing the rights and interests of New York's workforce.

The successful candidate will play a key part in managing case files, preparing legal documents, and facilitating communication within a dynamic and fast-paced legal environment.

• Review record requests related to the Freedom of Information Law and subpoenas, compiling responsive documents, and preparing documents for attorney review.
• Perform document reviews and prepare draft responses to document demands for attorney review.
• Assemble exhibits and briefs for use during administrative hearings.
• Maintain or oversee tracking systems, calendars, and reporting systems.
• Draft portions of briefs, affidavits, affirmations, and other motion-related papers.
• Answer routine questions from external parties and provide routine information regarding processes or procedures.
• Create, maintain, and close files in the file management platform used to track the workflow of Counsel’s Office activities.
• Contribute to team efforts by undertaking additional responsibilities as required.

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, if they meet the below NY HELPS minimum qualifications.

NY HELPS Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications

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).

Substitutions:
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).

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.

Examples of non-qualifying experience: receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, office manager.

Substitutions:
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.

Your degree must have been awarded by an educational institution accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education. If awarded by an institution outside the U.S. and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of companies that provide…