Senior Attorney

Duties Description The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) provides high-quality, person-centered services, supports and advocacy to people with developmental disabilities in New York State. OPWDD's mission is to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lead richer lives. OPWDD's Counsel's Office is seeking an attorney to work as part of the Bureau of Service Delivery and Program Compliance (SDPC). The Bureau of SDPC provides legal support to the agency on a wide variety of issues related to OPWDD's service delivery system. In this role, you will be able to collaborate across divisions. SDPC works closely with its colleagues in Counsel's Office, other divisions within OPWDD, agency leadership, and internal and external stakeholders. Your work will not only address person-specific cases, but it will also offer opportunities to assist in agency policy development and implementation. Advising on topics related to service delivery (e.g., employment services, residential relocations, post-education adult service development, individual rights, and housing subsidies) Advising on topics related to healthcare (e.g., guardianships, health care proxies, Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Representing the agency at administrative hearings (e.g., preparing witnesses and exhibits for hearings, preparing opening/closing statement, examining witnesses, preparing appeals, and keeping managers advised of case status) Drafting regulations, Administrative Directive Memoranda (ADMs), and policies related to the delivery of services for people with developmental disabilities and individual rights; Conducting research and writing on matters related to the delivery of services for people with developmental disabilities; and Completing other matters as assigned. If you are looking for a dynamic role with a collaborative team at a mission-based agency, we encourage you to apply for this position! Minimum Qualifications Senior Attorney (SG-25): One year of permanent competitive service as an Assistant Attorney 3, or admission to the NYS Bar and two years of post-licensure professional legal experience. Assistant Attorney 1 (equated to SG-18): Law school graduation (or other eligibility to take the NYS Bar Examination). Assistant Attorney 2 (equated to SG-20): Admission to NYS Bar. Assistant Attorney 3 (equated to SG-22): One year as an Assistant Attorney 2, or admission to the NYS Bar and one year of subsequent professional legal experience. Advancement Within the Attorney Traineeship If you are appointed to one of the entry levels of the Attorney Traineeship, you will normally be advanced after each twelve months of satisfactory service to the next higher title (with salary based on performance) until you reach the full performance level of a Senior Attorney. If you are appointed as an Assistant Attorney 1, you will be automatically advanced to Assistant Attorney 2 upon admission to the New York State Bar. If you are not admitted to the New York State Bar within two years of appointment, your appointment will be terminated. Transfer Eligibility Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; or be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades. To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT‑IT website. Additional Comments This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status. Benefits The position may be filled at the Assistant Attorney 1 equated to SG-18 ($66,951), Assistant Attorney 2 equated to SG-20 ($74,193), Assistant Attorney 3 equated to SG-22 ($82,326) or full performance Senior Attorney SG-25 ($96,336) based on education and experience. If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 or 52.6 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee. The assignment of PS&T employees will be made in accordance with any agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding between PEF and the local DDSO regarding the posting of job vacancies. Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume. All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility. If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full‑time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, visit Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io to obtain information and RA forms. Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan. Voluntary pre‑tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses. Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs. Life insurance and Disability insurance. The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax‑deferred basis. Paid Holidays and Leave: Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year. Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially. Five (5) days paid personal leave each year. Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year. Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events. Health Care Coverage: Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost. Paid Parental Leave: Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. Retirement Program: Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation. Professional Development and Education and Training: NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, visit Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, visit OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs. All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities