REMOTE FULL-TIME SENIOR ATTORNEY

Senior Attorney, SG-25 or Assistant Attorney (NY HELPS) Counsel’s Office Albany, NY Posting Dates: August 31, 2026 – September 10, 2026

Harvest 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. 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 in support of Department programs. This position serves as a legal advisor to program administrators, policy analysts, and division staff in the day-to-day operation of these programs, with a primary focus on issues involving the Department’s Division of the State Fair. This position may also work with the Department’s Divisions of Agricultural Development and Land and Water Resources as a legal advisor for the grant programs administered by these divisions. A significant portion of the work will involve providing assistance with the development of procurement documents including Requests for Proposals and Invitations for Bid and reviewing and drafting contracts and MOUs, working with agency staff and the Office of State Comptroller and the Office of the Attorney General as necessary.

The incumbent may prepare legal analyses, memoranda, guidance, and Department position statements related to issues arising from the Department’s administration and enforcement of the Agriculture and Markets Law, as well as issues impacting the state’s agricultural industry in general. The Senior Attorney or Assistant Attorney provides legal review of FOIL requests, including the review of agency records, and identifies and drafts legislative amendments and/or rulemakings which may be necessary or beneficial to achieving the core mission of the Department. The incumbent consults with program managers, obtains program staff input, and provides guidance on legal issues. Additionally, the incumbent researches requests and inquiries from Executive and agency program managers, reviews agency programs from a legal viewpoint, analyzes legislation proposed by others for legal sufficiency and/or its effect on agency programs, and represents the Department in administrative proceedings.

The Senior Attorney or Assistant Attorney is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday. 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.

Assistant Attorney 1, NS = Grade 18 à $66,951/ year, the hiring rate for PEF salary grade (SG) 18

Assistant Attorney 2, NS = Grade 20 à $74,193/ year, the hiring rate for PEF salary grade (SG) 20

Assistant Attorney 3, NS = Grade 22 à $82,326/ year, the hiring rate for PEF salary grade (SG) 22

Completion 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: inexpensive Health Insurance options

free Dental and Vision coverage

NYS Pension Plan membership

Within the first year, you are eligible for 5 days of personal time, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays!

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.

Traineeship Qualifications: 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: Assistant 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 experience

Senior Attorney, Grade 25: One year as Assistant Attorney 3 or admission to the NYS Bar and two years of post-licensure professional legal experience.

Notes: Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis in determining the appropriate appointment level. 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. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Reassignment Qualifications: You must be a current Department of Agriculture and Markets employee and have one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Senior Attorney, G-25; 52.6 Transfer Qualifications to Senior Attorney, SG-25: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer under Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law. Source titles from which transfer may be made include the Senior Attorney, G-25. Candidates must have 12 months of experience as an Assistant Attorney 3, OR admission to the NYS Bar and 24 months of subsequent satisfactory legal experience.

52.6 Transfer Qualifications to Assistant Attorney 3, NS: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer under Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law. Source titles from which transfer may be made include the Assistant Attorney 3, NS. Candidates must have either 12 months of experience as an Assistant Attorney 2, OR admission to the NYS Bar and 12 months of subsequent satisfactory legal experience.

52.6 Transfer Qualifications to Assistant Attorney 2, NS: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer under Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law. Source titles from which transfer may be made include the Assistant Attorney 2, NS. Candidates must be admitted to the New York State Bar Association, be licensed to practice law in New York State, and have two years of post-Bar legal experience to be appointed to the Senior Attorney, SG-25; AND have 3 months to less than 1 year of Legal Experience in Procurements, Grants, and Government Contracts and Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs); AND have at least novice experience in Advisory Memoranda Legal Tasks.

70.1 Transfer Qualifications to Senior Attorney, SG-25: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law. Such titles include but are not limited to: Senior Attorney Realty, SG-25.

Reinstatement Under Rule 5.4: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they were previous permanent New York State employees who resigned their positions may be reinstated to their former positions, or to positions to which they were eligible for transfer or reassignment without further examination. 55-b/c Qualifications to Assistant Attorney 1, NS: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they meet these qualifications: you must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LLB or JD degree.

Information about the Workers with Disabilities 55-b and the Veterans with Disabilities employment program 55-c can be found at 55b/c Recruitment Resources Center (ny.All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity, and reasonable accommodations and/or modifications as necessary, for qualified persons with disabilities. Division: Counsel’s Office

Negotiating Unit: PEF

Full-time; Permanent