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Senior Attorney, SG-25 or Assistant Attorney (NY HELPS)
Counsel's Office
Albany, NY
Posting Dates: May 11, 2026 - May 21, 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. 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 Division of Land and Water Resources, Plant Industry, Animal Industry and Weights and Measures.
The incumbent may prepare litigation documents, legal analysis, memoranda, guidance, and Department position statements related to issues of food safety and regulations, invasive species and plant disease; animal disease and health, handle FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) 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. The Senior Attorney or Assistant Attorney will provide assistance with the development of contracts, the solicitation of Requests for Proposals and Invitations for bid, 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) 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. Minimum qualification details are below.
The candidate appointed at the Senior Attorney, SG-25 level, will be eligible to participate in the New York State Performance Evaluation Program. Through this program, employees receive yearly performance evaluations. Performance advances are payable to PEF employees whose base annual salary is below the job rate for their current position and who were rated "Satisfactory" or its equivalent on their yearly performance evaluation. Performance advance payments are added to an employee's annual salary. Over time, yearly performance advances may lead to the SG-25 job rate salary of $121,413/ year!
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)! The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct student loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full-time for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets or another eligible employer.
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: 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 Bar
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:

1. 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.

1. 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 http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. 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.
Alternate Minimum Qualifications:
You may also be eligible for appointment to this position if you meet any of the following minimum qualifications.
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; if you have less than one year, you must be reachable on the current eligible list for this location if one exists.
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 have received admission to NYS Bar.
Preferred Experience Beyond the Minimum Qualifications for 52.6 Transfer: 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. Employees separated from their positions may be reinstated within one year of the date of their separation. Employees separated from their positions who have also been separated from state service for more than one year may be reinstated upon approval by the state Civil Service Commission.
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.gov).
How to Apply:
Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to one of these opportunities must use this link to apply: Position Vacancy Online Application by: May 21, 2026. Within this online application please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter.
If you have any questions, please contact Deborah Leo in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or HarvestYourPotential@agriculture.ny.gov.
The Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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. If you are in need of a reasonable accommodation, please visit: https://agriculture.ny.gov/employment-information.
Additional Position Information:
Division: Counsel's Office
Negotiating Unit: PEF
Location: Albany, NY
Number of Vacancies: One
Status of Vacancy: Full-time; Permanent
Hours Per Week: 37.5 Hours
Jurisdictional Class: Competitive
Civil Service List(s): Eligible List Exists