Legal Assistant or Trainee; NY HELPS

Position: Legal Assistant 1 or Trainee (NY HELPS)
Duties Description In close association with an attorney or attorneys, Legal Assistants perform a variety of paralegal activities that require formal education and experience. Incumbents compile and organize files and documentation; prepare and assist in the preparation of legal documents and forms; catalog information; update databases or spreadsheets; and prepare correspondence. The incumbent of this Legal Assistant 1 position performs the following duties:

• Prepare, file, and serve legal documents, including but not limited to Notices of Entry from draft text using the correct legal format.

• Keep records calendar in order to meet court-specified deadlines for document filing.

• Maintain and update case files.

• Interview witnesses and prepare affidavits.

• Proofread documents for correct legal terminology, context, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and question issues of law which appear unclear.

• Maintain contact with court personnel to set up court dates, serve papers in a legally sufficient and timely manner, and keep abreast of changes in filing and format requirements.

• Assist with e-filing documents in NYSCEF and monitoring section cases in NYSCEF.

• Assemble motion exhibits, appellate briefs, and appendices.

• Prepare initial UI appeal case files.

• Maintain and/or oversee tracking systems, calendars, and reporting systems.

• Open and close files or cases and/or oversee the process of opening, closing, and archiving files and cases.

• Perform activities related to docketing, and placement of court-related activities in NYMatters and on an attorney's calendar.

• Answer routine questions from the public.

• Prepare reports as requested.

• Provide support including answering phone calls, processing mail, etc.

• Assist the general public by answering questions via phone or office walk-ins.

• Review written complaints and inquiries, determine how best to handle (i.e. mediation; referral; private attorney; provide information/materials); and respond to them in writing.

• Identify consumer complaints that could lead to larger affirmative enforcement litigation possibilities.

• Refer consumers to other agencies or provide them with informational materials when appropriate.

• Assist the Consumer AAG's and AAGIC with various tasks as required to support enforcement actions.

• Perform research and record management and report generation functions, including responding to records requests.

• Become familiar with consumer protection laws that our office enforces.

• Confer with attorneys about patterns and potential violations of law and determine whether future action is needed.

• Assist with ongoing investigations and the preparation of litigation.

• Perform background research on the subjects of the investigation and identify all consumers affected.

• Gather and organize evidence to support the investigation, including doing online research, reviewing business documents, and occasionally doing field work.

• Create written summaries or spreadsheets summarizing findings.

• Assist Consumer Frauds staff with legal document assembly.

• Assist with post-enforcement activities such as monitoring businesses and distributing restitution to consumers.

• Assist with community outreach.

• The incumbent may perform other duties and special projects as assigned, including providing backup to administrative support staff within the office, as necessary.

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…