Student Legal Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Legal Assistant 2, SG-17 (NY HELPS)
Counsel's Office
Albany, NY
Posting Dates: April 17, 2026 - April 27, 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 Legal Assistant 2 to work at their Department Headquarters in Albany, NY. Under the supervision of an Administrative Specialist 1, this position provides paraprofessional legal support in both litigation and non-litigation matters, including organizing and maintaining case files; drafting and preparing legal documents, motions, affidavits, discovery responses, briefs, opinions, and correspondence; conducting document review and investigations; analyzing court orders and adversary filings; assisting with hearing and trial preparation; coordinating service and court filings; tracking legislation; and supporting contract drafting and negotiations, with assigned cases developed to the point of attorney review and approval.
The Legal Assistant 2 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:
The Legal Assistant 2 position is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 17. The starting salary of the PEF SG-17 is $63,361/year.
The candidate appointed at the Legal Assistant 2, SG-17 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-17 job rate salary of $80,655/ 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, paid parental leave, 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:
When a NY HELPS title can be filled with promotion and open-competitive qualifications, and the entire promotion eligible list is exhausted or does not exist, a NY HELPS appointment can be made in the following ways:
A NY HELPS appointment may be made for a qualified employee in a direct-line, lower-level promotion title.
Direct-line lower-level promotion title NY HELPS Qualifications: The direct line field is comprised of a single title that is the immediate lower-level title to the title being filled. This requires one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Legal Assistant 1, SG-14.
If there are fewer than 3 interested, qualified internal candidates in the direct-line lower-level promotion title then:
Candidates may be eligible for a NY HELPS Open-Competitive appointment to Legal Assistant 2 if they meet the open-competitive NY HELPS qualifications, or the qualifications listed on the most recent Open-Competitive examination announcement for the Legal Assistant 2 title.
NY HELPS Open Competitive Qualifications: Three years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant.
Non-Qualifying Experience: Non-qualifying experience includes but is not limited to experience which is limited solely to general clerical or secretarial duties performed in a law office.
Open Competitive Legal Assistant 2 Examination Announcement Qualifications: Either 1: A bachelor's degree (or higher) in a paralegal/legal assistant program 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); AND one year of subsequent full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant.
Or 2: an associate's degree (or higher) 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 accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) AND two years of subsequent full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant.
Substitution: Graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required by New York State Bar admittance will be accepted as meeting the educational requirements.
Non-Qualifying Degrees: Non-qualifying degrees include but are not limited to degrees in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Liberal Arts, Political Science, Business Administration and Business Management.
Non-Qualifying Experience: Non-qualifying experience includes but is not limited to experience which is limited solely to general clerical or secretarial duties performed in a law office.
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:
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 Legal Assistant 2, SG-17; 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 Legal Assistant 2, SG-17: This position is designated administrative under Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law and may be filled by administrative transfer under that section. Source titles from which transfer may be made must be designated administrative and be within two salary grades or one M-grade of the target title. Applicants must also possess any required special credentials or licenses, including:
Either 1: A bachelor's degree (or higher) in a paralegal/legal assistant program 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); AND one year of subsequent full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant.
Or 2: an associate's degree (or higher) 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 accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) AND two years of subsequent full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant.
Substitution: Graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required by New York State Bar admittance will be accepted as meeting the educational requirements.
Non-Qualifying Degrees: Non-qualifying degrees include but are not limited to degrees in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Liberal Arts, Political Science, Business Administration and Business Management.
Non-Qualifying Experience: Non-qualifying experience includes but is not limited to experience which is limited solely to general clerical or secretarial duties performed in a law office.
70.1 Transfer Qualifications to Legal Assistant 2: 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 transfer titles include but are not limited to: Senior Attorney, 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.
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 by: April 27, 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.
Additional Position Information:
Division: Counsel's Office
Negotiating Unit: PEF
Location: Albany
Number of Vacancies: One
Status of Vacancy: Full-time; Contingent-Permanent
Hours per Week: 37.5
Jurisdictional Class: Competitive
Civil Service List(s): Eligible List Exists