What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Assistant 1 or Trainee position at Attorney General, Office of the?
Permanent appointment: Reachable on the Legal Assistant Trainee 1 eligible list OR eligible to transfer.
Provisional appointment: 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).
Substitution: Graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required by New York State Bar admittance will be accepted as meeting the educational requirements for either examination.
Non-qualifying degrees: Non-qualifying degrees include but are not limited to degrees in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Liberal Arts, Political Science, Business Administration and Business Management.
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.
Non-Competitive promotion: If the number of interested candidates is three or fewer, a competitive examination will not be held and the agency, at its discretion, may nominate a qualified employee for non-competitive promotion under Section 52.7 of the Civil Service Law. Permanent appointments may be made by applicants who meet the position’s minimum qualifications if all requirements of a non-competitive promotion are met. To be eligible for a non-competitive promotion, individuals must be an employee of the Office of the Attorney General and have Both A) Possession of 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), AND B) completion of all of the coursework requirements for the Legal Assistant traineeship.
Duties:
- Schedules witnesses and collects information relevant to the case.
- Reviews case-related materials for lines of questioning.
- Assembles exhibits and briefs for court filings.
- Assisting at trials by managing the exhibits and suggesting relevant questions for the attorney to raise. .
- Reviews administrative procedures and makes initial determinations regarding information releasable under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Completes routine investigative work for attorney review.
- Gathers complete information from a variety of sources, including State agencies.
- Coordinates with State agency clients regarding cases, records, witnesses etc.
- Provides a preliminary analysis of information to attorneys.
- Manages the flow of case-related materials.
- Uses Shepard's Citations or other reference sources to check the cases cited to ensure that the case law is still relevant.
- Maintains or oversees tracking systems, calendars, and reporting systems.
- Performs activities related to docketing, the placement of court-related activities on the court calendar, and on the attorney's calendar.
- Prepares portions of briefs, affidavits, affirmations, and other motion-related papers.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The OAG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to workplace diversity.
As an employee of the OAG, you will join a team of dedicated individuals who work to serve the people of our State through a wide variety of occupations. We offer a comprehensive New York State benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits, and family-friendly policies. Additionally, the OAG offers a robust Workplace Flexibilities Program with multiple options for employees, including telecommuting (up to two days per week) and alternative work schedules.
