What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Assistant 1 or Trainee (NY HELPS) - Litigation position at State of New York?
• Provide support to Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) in the Litigation Bureau’s Law Enforcement Practice Group, including the handling of confidential materials and knowledge of Bureau and OAG protocols, procedures, and resources.
• Assist in the drafting and preparation of forms, correspondence and legal documents for state and federal litigation (e.g., reviewing and/or drafting legal pleadings, discovery demands and responses, motions, memoranda and briefs, affidavits, privilege logs, correspondence, etc.).
• Update, maintain, and search litigation cases in OAG’s case management system (NYMatters), including conflicts checks, POL § 17 representation analysis, and scanning and transferring documents into NYMatters. Set up, maintain, and update hard copy and database records of all cases that are assigned to the Section, including in NYMatters.
• Access and utilize Internet-based research tools and electronic state and federal court docketing databases.
• Organize and manage litigation documents using both electronic (including, but not limited to, Relativity and/or other platforms) and hard copy document management systems.
• Index, categorize, review, redact, duplicate, and Bates-stamp documents to be produced in discovery, including electronic indexing and creating production charts and privilege logs, using Adobe Acrobat and Relativity.
• Copy, scan, and assemble legal papers.
• Prepare chronologies of facts and case activity using MS Excel or MS Word.
• Proofread and cite-check legal documents, including Bluebooking legal citations.
• Assist in preparing and filing documents in court, including service of documents on parties.
• Assist in all aspects of deposition, hearing, and trial preparation including, but not limited to, fact investigation and preparation of exhibits, and provide direct assistance at actual depositions, hearings, and trials.
• Prepare tables of contents and authorities in MS Word using styles, marking citations, etc.
• Prepare routine templates and legal documents, including notices of appearance, judgments, and notices of entry.
• Arrange conference calls, witness interviews, court reporters, and production/copy service.
• Handle logistics, including scheduling, for depositions and other litigation events.
• Organize and index case files for archiving.
• Maintain tracking systems, calendars, and reporting systems.
• Interface with other attorneys and staff in the Litigation Bureau and other OAG bureaus or regional offices on an as needed basis.
• Interface with the Managing Attorney’s Office, as well as with court clerks and staff, concerning court filings, scheduling, service issues, and other related tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, and some experience with Relativity and/or other electronic discovery platforms is preferred.
*Positions located in New York City receive an additional $4,000 annually in location pay added to the annual base salary.
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 part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
NON-COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS
Legal Assistant 1 (CSEA, SG 14; Hiring Rate: $56,506*, Job Rate: $58,630*):
Candidates must have:
A minimum of two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “Definition” below).
OR
An associate degree (or higher) in Paralegal/Legal Assistant/Legal Studies or a certificate in a Paralegal/Legal Assistant 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 full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “Definition” below).
Substitution: 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.
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.
Non-qualifying experience includes receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, and office manager.
Legal Assistant Trainee 1 (CSEA, NS ~ equated to SG 11, Hiring Rate: $47,695*, Job Rate: $58,447*):
Candidates must have:
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).
OTHER WAYS TO QUALIFY
Reachable on the Department of Civil Service eligible list for Legal Assistant 1 or Legal Assistant Trainee.
OR
Eligible for a lateral transfer or eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law by having one year of permanent competitive service in an appropriate title. To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website.
Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered into the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has recently covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024, and June 11, 2025. Notification to employees regarding a change in their status is forthcoming. You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective 6/12/25 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.
Trainees must successfully complete a set training and development program to be advanced to the full performance level of this title. If you are appointed as a Trainee 1 (CSEA, NS ~ equated to SG-11, current starting salary $47,695; job rate $58,447), upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2 (CSEA, NS ~ equated to SG-13, current starting salary $53,413, job rate $65,061). Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2, you will advance to the full level of this title (CSEA, SG-14, current starting salary $56,506, job rate $68,630) without further examination.*
• Assist in the drafting and preparation of forms, correspondence and legal documents for state and federal litigation (e.g., reviewing and/or drafting legal pleadings, discovery demands and responses, motions, memoranda and briefs, affidavits, privilege logs, correspondence, etc.).
• Update, maintain, and search litigation cases in OAG’s case management system (NYMatters), including conflicts checks, POL § 17 representation analysis, and scanning and transferring documents into NYMatters. Set up, maintain, and update hard copy and database records of all cases that are assigned to the Section, including in NYMatters.
• Access and utilize Internet-based research tools and electronic state and federal court docketing databases.
• Organize and manage litigation documents using both electronic (including, but not limited to, Relativity and/or other platforms) and hard copy document management systems.
• Index, categorize, review, redact, duplicate, and Bates-stamp documents to be produced in discovery, including electronic indexing and creating production charts and privilege logs, using Adobe Acrobat and Relativity.
• Copy, scan, and assemble legal papers.
• Prepare chronologies of facts and case activity using MS Excel or MS Word.
• Proofread and cite-check legal documents, including Bluebooking legal citations.
• Assist in preparing and filing documents in court, including service of documents on parties.
• Assist in all aspects of deposition, hearing, and trial preparation including, but not limited to, fact investigation and preparation of exhibits, and provide direct assistance at actual depositions, hearings, and trials.
• Prepare tables of contents and authorities in MS Word using styles, marking citations, etc.
• Prepare routine templates and legal documents, including notices of appearance, judgments, and notices of entry.
• Arrange conference calls, witness interviews, court reporters, and production/copy service.
• Handle logistics, including scheduling, for depositions and other litigation events.
• Organize and index case files for archiving.
• Maintain tracking systems, calendars, and reporting systems.
• Interface with other attorneys and staff in the Litigation Bureau and other OAG bureaus or regional offices on an as needed basis.
• Interface with the Managing Attorney’s Office, as well as with court clerks and staff, concerning court filings, scheduling, service issues, and other related tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, and some experience with Relativity and/or other electronic discovery platforms is preferred.
*Positions located in New York City receive an additional $4,000 annually in location pay added to the annual base salary.
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 part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
NON-COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS
Legal Assistant 1 (CSEA, SG 14; Hiring Rate: $56,506*, Job Rate: $58,630*):
Candidates must have:
A minimum of two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “Definition” below).
OR
An associate degree (or higher) in Paralegal/Legal Assistant/Legal Studies or a certificate in a Paralegal/Legal Assistant 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 full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “Definition” below).
Substitution: 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.
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.
Non-qualifying experience includes receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, and office manager.
Legal Assistant Trainee 1 (CSEA, NS ~ equated to SG 11, Hiring Rate: $47,695*, Job Rate: $58,447*):
Candidates must have:
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).
OTHER WAYS TO QUALIFY
Reachable on the Department of Civil Service eligible list for Legal Assistant 1 or Legal Assistant Trainee.
OR
Eligible for a lateral transfer or eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law by having one year of permanent competitive service in an appropriate title. To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website.
Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered into the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has recently covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024, and June 11, 2025. Notification to employees regarding a change in their status is forthcoming. You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective 6/12/25 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.
Trainees must successfully complete a set training and development program to be advanced to the full performance level of this title. If you are appointed as a Trainee 1 (CSEA, NS ~ equated to SG-11, current starting salary $47,695; job rate $58,447), upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2 (CSEA, NS ~ equated to SG-13, current starting salary $53,413, job rate $65,061). Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2, you will advance to the full level of this title (CSEA, SG-14, current starting salary $56,506, job rate $68,630) without further examination.*
Salary : $4,000 - $68,630