Senior Attorney (NY Helps)

Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title or in a title eligible for 70.1 or 52.6 transfer AND admission to the New York State Bar.
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS)* and applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications to be considered for this position:

• This position may be filled through a traineeship, leading to the journey level title of Senior Attorney:
• Assistant Attorney 1 (equated to SG-18): Law school graduation and/or eligibility for NYS Bar Admission.
• Assistant Attorney 2 (equated to SG-20): Admission to NYS Bar with less than 12 months of post-Bar satisfactory legal experience.
• Assistant Attorney 3 (equated to SG-22): Admission to NYS Bar and 12 months, but less than 24 months of post-Bar satisfactory legal experience.
• Senior Attorney (SG-25): Admission to NYS Bar and two years of post-licensure professional legal experience.

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 this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.

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 of 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.

Duties Description

Under the direction of Associate Attorney, M3, within the Chief General Counsel Office, the Senior Attorney, M1, will assist with providing A Government Entity, including its program areas, project teams, Portfolios, and executive management, with legal and policy-related advice concerning eDiscovery, data management and litigation issues. This includes providing policy and legal advice, support, education and guidance related to the implementation, and maintenance of major technology initiatives involving eDiscovery and data management. The Senior Attorney will also take an active part in ensuring that A Government Entity is compliant with the laws, rules, and regulations that impact the agency's operations. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Complete research, attend trainings, and stay up to date on current and emerging eDiscovery caselaw, issues, rules, best practices, and guidelines;
• Assist IT and legal staff dedicated to technical and legal support of the State's Office365 eDiscovery/Compliance Center toolsets and program;
• Assist IT and legal staff dedicated to technical and legal support of the State's Office365 eDiscovery platform;
• Assist IT and legal staff dedicated to technical and legal support of the State's Forensics Investigations Unit;
• Create and maintain trainings and guidance on eDiscovery services, caselaw, issues, rules, and best practices;
• With the assistance of the eDiscovery Counsel, Supervising Attorney and the IT manager of the Enterprise eDiscovery Services Team, draft and review policies related to eDiscovery, data management, and other matters as necessary;
• Assist A Government Entity, Portfolios, and the Attorney General's Office in the review and response to Discovery Demands and other legal documents as needed;
• Assist with the A Government Entity eDiscovery matters portfolio;
• Assist with internal investigations of fraud, waste and abuse of agency resources;
• Assist with investigations of Acceptable Use violations, including use of forensic investigation tools and practices;
• Support the General Counsel, eDiscovery Counsel and the Supervising Attorney with oversight and administration of the Counsel's Office as needed;
• Research, advise, and provide assistance and interpretations on legal and policy issues;
• Perform research on legal precedent involving FOIL and opinions of the Committee on Open Government as needed;
• Process FOIL requests as necessary.