Legal Assistant 1 (NY HELPS) - Claims

About the position

The Legal Assistant 1 (NY HELPS) position at the Office of the Attorney General involves providing essential paralegal support to attorneys in the handling of legal claims, particularly in the areas of tort and medical malpractice. The role requires a combination of formal education and practical experience to assist in drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, and managing case files. This position is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS), allowing for non-competitive appointments for eligible candidates.

Responsibilities

• Drafts Tort and Medical Malpractice Answers and Discovery Demands.
• Drafts pre- and post-Answer motions.
• Performs Jury Verdict searches and analyzes damage awards and settlement values.
• Conducts legal research using traditional and electronic reference sources regarding general negligence and medical malpractice law and policy issues.
• Communicates with Court personnel regarding applicable rules and procedures.
• Communicates with client agencies and individual defendants.
• Calculates and calendars due dates for pleadings and motion return dates.
• Drafts legal responses and correspondence to Courts, adversaries, and co-defendant counsel.
• Drafts and assembles briefs, tables, affidavits, exhibits, and other documents for trial.
• Uses and maintains electronic case management system for all cases, including attaching all documents and updating relevant case information for each matter.
• Requests, reviews, and analyzes discovery responses and medical records.
• Analyzes and digests large amounts of data and presents it in a cogent manner.
• Assists attorney with trial preparation, including digesting deposition transcripts, drafting briefs, motions, exhibits, and other documents for use at trial.
• Utilizes Shepard's citations and other legal reference sources to check cases cited in legal papers prepared by attorneys to ensure accuracy and relevancy of case law.
• Assists attorneys with document production including required redactions and bates numbering.
• Responds to inquiries from the Court, client agencies, and Bureau attorneys.
• Maintains and develops lists and spreadsheets for case tracking purposes.
• Prepares and electronically files with the Courts all relevant legal documents.
• Liaisons with Managing Attorney's Office regarding filing and service of legal documents.
• Collaborates with client agencies' risk management departments and internal bureau investigators.
• Completes routine investigations, including obtaining records and documents from client agencies.
• Gathers information from various outside sources and prepares a detailed analysis for review.
• Maintains or oversees tracking systems, calendars, and reporting systems.
• Alerts attorneys as to deadlines, defects, conflicts, and questions.

Requirements

• Minimum of two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant; OR an associate degree (or higher) in a paralegal/legal assistant/legal studies program; OR an associate degree (or higher) in any field with one year of experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant.
• Graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required for NYS Bar will be accepted as meeting the educational and experience requirements for this title.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with electronic case management systems.
• Familiarity with legal research tools and databases.

Benefits

• Paid vacation leave (13+ days per year)
• Sick leave
• Paid State holidays off
• Health insurance including vision & dental
• Entry into the NYS retirement (pension) system
• Education and training
• Eligibility for public student loan forgiveness
• Job stability with promotional opportunities
• Telecommuting (up to two days per week)
• Alternative work schedules