What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Attorney, 54612 position at NYS Unified Court System?
UCS-23
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENT
STATE OF NEW YORK
UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM
PLEASE POST
ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 54612
POSITION TITLE: PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY JG: 31
LOCATION: APPELLATE DIVISION, FOURTH DEPARTMENT
MENTAL HYGIENE LEGAL SERVICE – BUFFALO, NY
BASE SALARY: $130,061
CLASSIFICATION: NON-COMPETITIVE/CONFIDENTIAL
QUALIFICATIONS: Admission to the New York State Bar and two (2) years of service in the Associate Attorney title; or
Equivalent legal experience.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Principal Attorneys serve in a confidential capacity in the Mental Hygiene Legal
Services, attorney disciplinary committees, departmental law-guardian offices, or other such units where they research legal
questions and issues, organize complex investigations, prepare and present complex cases before administrative tribunals and
trial and appellate courts, and perform related duties. Principal Attorneys may also assist in selecting and training new staff,
developing and implementing policies and procedures and in handling day-to-day administrative matters. They may also work with
advisory committees, assist with planning and executing educational programs, assist with resolving administrative problems, and
serve as director of a departmental law guardian office.
ASSIGNMENT: Duties include but are not limited to: researching and analyzing complex legal questions and issues; preparing and
presenting cases before administrative tribunals and courts; preparing confidential reports, memoranda, legal papers and briefs;
representing mentally disabled clients, sex offender clients and other clients as provided by law; extensive travel without reliance
on public transportation is required.
GENERAL INFORMATION: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed
by persons assigned to this title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in the title, and every position does not
necessarily require these duties. Although a position is available and situated at a specific location, the appointee may be subject
to reassignment to any position in the same title in this promotion unit dependent upon the needs of the Unified Court System. All
applications received from this announcement may be used to fill any vacancies in this title that may occur in this court or agency
within the next six (6) months. Position(s) available at the present time: 1 .
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a UCS -5
Application for Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at
http://www.nycourts.gov/careers/UCS5.pdf) , cover letter, and resume by email to: Cherri A. Todisco at ctodisco@nycourts.gov or
by mail to:
CHERRI A. TODISCO
HUMAN RESOURCES
APPELLATE DIVISION, FOURTH DEPARTMENT
M DOLORES COURTHOUSE, 50 EAST AVENUE, SUITE 200
ROCHESTER, NY 14604
APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DATA COLLECTION FORM.
POSTING DATE: June 10, 2026 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: July 8, 2026
The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital
status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Salary : $130,061