Review Vacancy
AgencyTransportation, Department of
TitleSenior Attorney/Assistant Attorney Trainee1/2/3 - NY HELPS
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $66951 to $121413 Annually
Appointment Type Contingent Permanent
Duties Description
Each attorney in the Division of Legal Affairs is assigned a diverse portfolio that may include novel and complex issues facing the Department. These assignments are often related to vital infrastructure projects improving the transportation future of New York State.
Working in collaboration with other attorneys, engineers, and program areas throughout the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), Division of Legal Affairs attorneys provide general legal advice, support, and counsel, which may involve numerous and intersecting subject matter areas, such as FOIL, environmental law, legislation, litigation, bond issuances, federal compliance, insurance, eminent domain, rail, aviation, employment matters, permitting, motor carrier enforcement, ethics, contracts, procurements, and contactor compliance.
This legal advice, support, and counsel will entail collaborating with program areas and other Department attorneys to identify legal issues, and researching, analyzing, and interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, opinions, briefs, and related documentation.
Assignments may also involve negotiation, drafting, review and revision of legal documents, correspondence, and memoranda, including contracts, agreements, permits, leases, legislative and regulatory proposals, and internal and external guidance documents and communications.
Litigation assignments may include supporting the Office of the Attorney General on actions such as torts, eminent domain claims, Article 78, employment, environmental, contractual, and enforcement proceedings, and providing summaries and recommendations on matters of liability, settlement, and appeal after independently reviewing, researching, and analyzing the facts and legal issues presented in each action.
Litigation assignments will also involve the processing and determination of small claims for alleged property damage from road defects. A Senior Attorney may also be assigned to represent NYSDOT in administrative proceedings involving employment matters, motor carrier safety and compliance violations, rail crossings and use, violations concerning the unauthorized use and occupancy of State property, and disputes arising from contract audits.
Attorneys with a desire to learn new subject areas and work in a fast-paced environment are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities may include serving a role within the Incident Command System to support the department’s response to regional and statewide emergency situations.
Minimum Qualifications This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). *
This position may be filled at the Senior Attorney level or one within the Legal Traineeship appointment levels. Appointment title will be dependent upon qualifications of candidate selected.
To be considered for a NY HELPS non-competitive appointment or 55 b/c appointment, candidates must still meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position as follows:
Assistant Attorney 1 (SG-18): Law school graduation and/or eligibility to take the NYS Bar Examination
Assistant Attorney 2 (SG -20): Admission to NYS Bar
Assistant Attorney 3 (SG-22): One year as Assistant Attorney 2 or admission to the NYS Bar and one year of subsequent professional legal experience.
Senior Attorney (SG-25): Admission to the NYS bar and two years of post-licensure professional legal experience.
This position may be filled as a traineeship at the Assistant Attorney 1,2 or 3 levels. Candidates appointed at the trainee level will be required to successfully complete the traineeship to advance to the journey level title and salary.
If appointed as Assistant Attorney 1, you will be automatically advanced to the Assistant Attorney 2 upon admission to the New York State Bar. If you are not admitted to the New York State Bar within two years of appointment, your appointment will be terminated.
Candidates may also be qualified for permanent competitive appointments if reachable from the appropriate Civil Service eligible list or eligible for reassignment or transfer in accordance with Civil Service Law.
Additional Comments Additional Information:
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
*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, 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 an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
If you are on the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) eligible list, please state that along with your score in your cover letter.
Your required educational credentials must have been awarded by an educational institution accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States (U.S.) Department of Education/Secretary of Education. If awarded by an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of companies that provide these services (fees must be paid to the company you choose) can be found at:
https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm
The salary range listed reflects the full range for this graded position. For new State employees appointed into graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts. For more salary information please visit https://oer.ny.gov/salary-schedules
DOT is an equal opportunity employer. Disabled persons are encouraged to apply.
In compliance with Public Law 99-603, candidates selected for appointment must provide an original document to prove their citizenship and/or legal right to work in the United States. Candidates for employment must have proper authorization to work in the United States at the time an offer of employment is made. The Department will not sponsor a nonimmigrant for a temporary employment visa (H-1B or similar), OPT STEM, or for permanent residence. Offers of permanent employment may not be made to nonimmigrants whose employment authorization is limited to a period of practical training (F-1 or similar).
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address Louis.DelGiacco@dot.ny.gov
Address
Street NYS Department of Transportation
50 Wolf Road
Notes on ApplyingQualified candidates should submit a letter of interest, a current resume, and a copy of required transcripts (if applicable), titled by last name, with the Notice Number MO-26-274 and last name in the subject line and referenced in the letter of interest no later than August 7, 2026 to:
NYS Department of Transportation
Louis Philip DelGiacco
Personnel Bureau
50 Wolf Road
Albany, NY 12232
Email: louis.delgiacco@dot.ny.gov