Attorney

Senior Attorney, SG-25 or Assistant Attorney (NY HELPS) Counsel's Office Albany, NYHarvest your potential with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets! Join our team and become an integral part of a team dedicated to fostering a competitive food and agriculture industry that benefits both producers and consumers alike. Here, you can cultivate your career in a dynamic environment that values innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. With a wide range of opportunities spanning from environmental science to economic development, you can find your niche in public service and grow both professionally and personally. Embrace the chance to join our team, and you'll not only reap a fulfilling career but also sow the seeds for a healthier, stronger New York.Position Information: The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking a Senior Attorney or Assistant Attorney to work at their Department Headquarters in Albany, NY. Under the supervision of an Associate Attorney, this position provides a full range of technical legal services supporting Department programs. This position serves as a legal advisor to program administrators, policy analysts, and division staff, with a primary focus on issues involving the Department's Divisions of Land and Water Resources, Plant Industry, Animal Industry and Weights and Measures. The incumbent may prepare legal analysis, memoranda, guidance, and Department position statements related to issues of agricultural land, agricultural districts, invasive species and plant disease; handle FOIL requests, including the review of agency records; identify and draft legislative amendments and/or rulemakings; consult with program managers and obtain program staff input to provide guidance on legal issues; research requests and inquiries from Executive managers and agency program managers; and analyze legislation proposed for legal sufficiency and effect on agency programs. This position may also represent the Department in administrative proceedings. The Senior Attorney or Assistant Attorney is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday. This position is located at 10B Airline Drive, Albany, New York. Our office is conveniently located near the Albany International Airport and offers free parking. Opportunities for telecommuting are available in accordance with the agency's Telecommuting Program Guidelines.Salary: This position requires the completion of a traineeship leading to Senior Attorney, SG-25; the length of the traineeship will be determined by the credentials and experience possessed by a candidate. The starting salary for each traineeship level can be found below:Assistant Attorney 1, NS = Grade 18 à $66,951/ year, the hiring rate for PEF salary grade (SG) 18Assistant Attorney 2, NS = Grade 20 à $74,193/ year, the hiring rate for PEF salary grade (SG) 20Assistant Attorney 3, NS = Grade 22 à $82,326/ year, the hiring rate for PEF salary grade (SG) 22Completion of the traineeship will result in permanent advancement to the Senior Attorney, SG-25 (starting salary of $96,336) without further examination. Candidates may be eligible for appointment directly to the Assistant Attorney 2, Assistant Attorney 3, or Senior Attorney level.Benefits: This is a PEF-represented position that offers excellent benefits! Benefits include but are not limited to inexpensive Health Insurance options, free Dental and Vision coverage, NYS Pension Plan membership, and generous paid time off. Within the first year, you are eligible for 5 days of personal time, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays! As a New York State employee, you could potentially qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)!NY HELPS Minimum Qualifications: NY HELPS Qualifications for Senior Attorney, G-25: Admission to the NYS bar and two years of post-licensure professional legal experience. Specialized requirements beyond the minimum qualifications: 3 months to less than 1 year of Government Administrative Law Experience in Grants and Government Contracts and Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs); AND at least novice experience in the following legal tasks: Advisory Memoranda, and Contract Drafting, Review, and Analysis.Traineeship Qualifications: Candidates who have graduated from law school and who possess credentials and experience less than that described above will be required to serve in a traineeship leading to Senior Attorney, Grade 25. The length of the traineeship will be determined by the credentials and experience possessed by a candidate. As shown below:Assistant Attorney 1, NS = Salary Grade 18: Law School Graduation (or other eligibility to take the NYS Bar Examination)Assistant Attorney 2, NS = Salary Grade 20: Admission to NYS BarAssistant Attorney 3, NS = Salary Grade 22: One year as Assistant Attorney 2 or admission to the NYS Bar and one year of subsequent professional legal experienceSenior Attorney, Grade 25: One year as Assistant Attorney 3 or admission to the NYS Bar and two years of post-licensure professional legal experienceNotes:Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis in determining the appropriate appointment level. Also, experience gained subsequent to admission to the Bar in a state having reciprocity with New York State can be credited only after admission to the New York State Bar. Candidates must note such experience and the existence of the admission reciprocity agreement at the time of interview.Your degree or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at You must pay the required evaluation fee.NY HELPS Program: 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 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.