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About the Department:

The New York State Department of Public Service (DPS or Department) works to: ensure safe, affordable, and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, water, and telecommunications services at just and reasonable rates for New York State customers, protect the natural environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions via transmission and siting of renewable energy resources, and augment the resiliency of utility infrastructure. Learn more about DPS and how you can make a difference by checking out our video and more at: https://dps.ny.gov/employment-opportunities.

                                                 

Minimum Qualifications: 

General Public

Non-Competitive (NY HELPS)**:

For appointment to a Legal Assistant Trainee 1, you must have:

A high school or high school equivalency diploma AND one year of clerical, administrative, or paraprofessional experience OR 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).

 

For appointment to a Legal Assistant 1, Grade 14, you must have:

Two years of full-time experience*** as a Paralegal or Legal Assistant, where you were responsible for applying knowledge of the law and legal procedures in rendering direct assistance to lawyers, clients, and courts; preparing and interpreting legal documents and forms; researching, compiling, and using information from legal materials to provide both written and verbal comments on their findings; and/or analyzing and handling routine procedural problems independently with minimal attorney oversight.

 

***Substitutions:

Either 1. 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

2. 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 OR

3. Graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required for NYS Bar will be accepted as meeting the educational and experience requirement for this title.

 

Preferred candidates would have proficiency with Microsoft applications, including SharePoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook, as well as Adobe Acrobat. Preferred candidates would have excellent time management skills, be comfortable working independently, have skill in prioritizing and managing multiple assignments, and have strong written and verbal communication skills.

 

Duties Description:

The Legal Assistant 1, Grade 14, will work in the Office of Hearings and Alternative Dispute Resolution (OHADR) and under the supervision of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), will perform duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting ALJs in drafting routine notices, rulings, and correspondence.
  • Conducting record research using online or hardcopy sources.
  • Tracking relevant internal and statutory deadlines and maintaining a calendar and/or database of case milestones.
  • Maintaining party lists for case proceedings.
  • Proofreading documents, including transcripts of proceedings, and coordinating with OHADR support staff to ensure documents are properly formatted in accordance with Commission guidelines.
  • Assisting ALJs to prepare for evidentiary hearings including scheduling witnesses and managing exhibits.
  • Assisting in tracking intervenor funding accounting.
  • Coordinating with court reporter services contractor to ensure transcripts are properly and timely prepared and posted for public viewing.
  • Answering routine questions from parties or members of the public.
  • Interacting and coordinating with support staff in OHADR and other offices as necessary.
  • Assisting with special projects as necessary.

 

Additional Comments:

*Successful completion of the two-year traineeship leads to appointment as a Legal Assistant 1, Grade 14.

 

**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, 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 an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

 

To Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to recruiting@dps.ny.gov or fax to Human Resources Management at (518)473-9990. Please reference “Legal Assistant 1, posting 00259” when applying