Legal Assistant 1 (NY HELPS) - VID 218009

The duties that the incumbent of the vacancy will be expected to perform. Duties Description The incumbent to this position would be responsible for, but not limited to the following:

• Schedules witnesses and collects information relevant to the case.
• Reviews case-related materials for lines of questioning.
• Assembles exhibits and briefs.
• May assist at trials or hearings by managing the exhibits and suggesting relevant questions for the attorney to raise.
• Prepares and files with the courts all associated court papers as directed or authorized by the attorney.
• May perform service of process or arrange for service of process through an outside vendor.
• Calculates monies owed to the State, determines responsible parties, and locates and notifies them of the amount.
• Reviews administrative procedures and makes initial determinations regarding information releasable under the Freedom of Information Act.
• Negotiates and proposes preliminary settlements of fines as directed or authorized by the attorney.
• Completes routine investigative work for attorney review.
• Gathers complete information from a variety of sources.
• Provides a preliminary analysis of information to attorneys.
• Reviews draft legislative proposals for compliance with bill drafting requirements.
• 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.
• May maintain or oversee tracking systems, calendars, and reporting systems.
• May open and close files or cases or oversee the process of opening or closing files and cases.
• Performs activities related to docketing, the placement of court-related activities on the court calendar, and on the attorney’s calendar.
• May draft legal responses to the courts or other interested parties as directed or authorized by the attorney.
• May prepare portions of briefs, affidavits, affirmations, and other motion-related papers.
• Answers routine questions from the public.
• Prepares findings of decisions and findings of fact.
• Prepares opinions on routine matters.
• Prepares reports.

The minimum qualifications required for this vacancy. Minimum Qualifications This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS)* and applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications to be considered for this position:

This title includes a traineeship opportunity, and applicants will be appointed to the appropriate level** based on their experience and education.

Required experience: Two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see “definition” below)

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.

Examples of non-qualifying experience: receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, office manager.

• Substitutions: 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

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 (see definition in MQs)

OR

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.

**Legal Assistant 1 level requirements:

• Legal Assistant Trainee 1 (equated to SG-11): 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).

Legal Assistant Trainee 2 (equated to SG-13): High school or high sc…