Legal Assistant 1 - Trainee 1 - NYHELPS

at  Transportation Department of

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*
To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position.
The qualifications are:
Trainee 1 level: One year of clerical, secretarial, keyboarding, or paraprofessional experience in an office environment.
Full Performance level: An associate degree 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).
Candidates may also be qualified for permanent competitive appointment if reachable from the appropriate Civil Service eligible list or eligible for reassignment or transfer in accordance with Civil Service Law.

The candidate will work in the Main Office, Division of Legal Affairs, and provide administrative
support for The Department’s oversize/overweight and motor carrier enforcement unit. This
includes analyzing notices of violations issued to operator of motor vehicles, reviewing permits,
tracking, and processing settlements, creating, and updating spreadsheets, performing collections
activities, and scheduling administrative appearances. Answering telephone calls and all
correspondence from respondents/customers.
In addition, the incumbent may be tasked with providing support on appropriation claims by tracking
claims, gathering, and distributing records, scheduling meetings, maintaining filing system, and
serving as a point of contact for Department attorneys and engineers, regional staff, the Office of
Right-of-Way, and the Attorney General’s Office.

Other duties to be performed by the incumbent include:

• Assisting attorneys on Department Contract Review Unit matters, including drafting routine

correspondence, receiving, and distributing reports, tracking contract and contractor status,

and providing updates to attorneys.

• Preparing routine correspondence, including drafting of Department orders, resolutions, and

opinions.

• Answering general questions from the public and Department staff and provide information

regarding Department processes or procedures.

• Performing document review, compiling, and organizing files and documentation; preparing and

assisting in the preparation of legal documents and forms; cataloging information; updating

databases and spreadsheets; and preparing correspondence and subpoenas.

• Assisting with Freedom of Information Law requests and Accident Damage Recovery matters.

Responsibilities may include serving a role within the Incident Command System to support the department’s response to regional and statewide emergency situations.