GOT-IT

Prin Attorney

Grade 65

New York State has approximately 21 positions* in this title statewide. You may view a breakdown of positions by county. This position exists in various agencies statewide. View links to all New York State agencies including agencies that have this title. For more information, New York State employees can contact the Career Mobility Office at (518) 485-6199 or (800) 553-1322. If you are not a current New York State employee, you can use the Department of Civil Service Web site to explore possible employment opportunities.

*The number of positions is approximate and represents the number of positions established (both filled and vacant); it is not an indication or reference to position type or duration, or intent to be filled. If you are viewing a trainee title, please note this number reflects the number of positions established at the journey level. Agencies may fill at the trainee level(s) or at the journey level based on employee qualifications. GOT-IT does not provide information on any job postings or job availability. For information on current job postings, please visit State Jobs NY. You may also visit specific New York State Agency websites for information about an agency and its job opportunities.

Career Ladder

A listing of titles that are most commonly used as steps for upward mobility for this title series. The salary schedule for this career ladder is also available.

  1. Assnt Attorney 1

    Similar to Grade 18

  2. Assnt Attorney 2

    Similar to Grade 20

  3. Assnt Attorney 3

    Similar to Grade 22

  4. Senr Attorney

    Grade 25

  5. Assoc Attorney

    Grade 28

  6. Supvg Attorney

    Grade 64

  7. Prin Attorney

    Grade 65

Summary of Job Description

As a Principal Attorney, you would be in charge of a major legal division within an agency's legal office or serve as second-in-command of an agency's legal office and provide expert legal advice and assistance to executive management and support to agency program administrators at the policymaking level to ensure that the Department's interests are properly represented in all litigation and administrative proceedings, and for all novel legal issues. Duties may include, but not be limited to: evaluating litigation, discussing matters with bureau chiefs, preparing written opinions, reviewing and drafting regulations and legislation, reviewing circular letters, drafting pleadings, affidavits, responses to questions by opposing parties, questions for cross-examination, preparing documents in response to subpoenas, compilations of privilege logs, and attending and monitoring depositions; overseeing administrative actions and the implementation of recently enacted legislation, the development of new policy, and participating in meetings and conferences; supervising a group of lower-level attorneys engaged in the preparation of legal cases for which there is little precedent and/or which have a major impact on an agency's mission and program; analyzing legal opinions, briefs and other material; and preparing memoranda of law, conferring with administrators or outside parties to legal action in order to mediate, negotiate, or settle legal issues related to the agency's mission and programs. Incumbents may be engaged in a specialized area of law in connection with a single agency program or in a more general atmosphere as evidenced by the concern with laws governing a number of agency programs.

View the classification standard for this title, on the Classification and Compensation webpage.

The NYS Title and Salary Plan provides additional information regarding other titles. If there is a classification standard available there will be a link under the column labeled STD. NO. If no link is available there is no classification standard available at this time for that title.

Summary of Minimum Qualifications

Please note: qualifications for this position may be subject to change. If substitutions for education and/or experience are allowed, this information would be available on the announcement.

You must take and pass a Civil Service Examination in order to be considered for this position.

On or before the date of the examination, the candidate must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had three months permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Supervising Attorney or Supervising Attorney (Various Parenthetics) or Associate Attorney or Associate Attorney (Various Parenthetics).

For informational purposes only, click on the examination number(s) listed below to see the current or previous examination(s) that are used to fill this title.

37-755

How to Apply

When this examination is scheduled to be held, the announcement can be found on the Department of Civil Service, Examination Announcements web page. If you do not see an examination currently scheduled please check back on a monthly basis or sign up for announcement notification by email so that you will automatically be notified when new examinations are being offered.

Career Mobility

Career mobility is not just limited to the titles in the Career Ladder, above. Additional movement may be achieved through other examinations, additional education and/or work experience or transfer opportunities. For additional information or clarification of transfer determinations, current State employees should contact the Career Mobility Office. Visit ELMS Online to view established open-competitive, promotion, and transition eligible lists. If you are not a current New York State employee, see Employment Opportunities with New York State and find out how to become a New York State employee.

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