Senior Attorney (HRM), M-1

About the role

The New York State Department of Financial Services seeks to build an equitable, transparent, and resilient financial system that benefits individuals and supports business. Through engagement, data-driven regulation and policy, and operational excellence, the Department and its employees are responsible for empowering consumers and protecting them from financial harm; ensuring the health of the entities we regulate; driving economic growth in New York through responsible innovation; and preserving the stability of the global financial system.

Responsibilities

• Handles time-sensitive labor relations and human resources matters, including employee discipline, investigations, administrative agency charges, and eDiscovery
• Monitors all pending human resources actions and advises agency leadership on legal aspects of labor relations within DFS
• Represents the agency at hearings, arbitrations, and review proceedings
• Coordinates with the NYS Office of Employee Relations as needed and advises agency leadership as appropriate
• Conducts legal research and prepares legal memoranda with opinions, citations, and legal precedents in support of relevant activities
• Assists the General Counsel in conducting confidential investigations and implementing uniform policies with respect to labor relations, telecommuting, and related requests
• Confers with administrators or outside parties to recommend legal action in order to mediate, negotiate, or settle legal issues
• Provides advice and consultation to supervisors and managers to ensure proper interpretation and administration of contract provisions and avoid misunderstandings that may lead to employee dissatisfaction and grievances
• Assists with the preparation of arbitration matters relating to employee discipline or discrimination matters pending with the NYS Division of Human Rights
• Recommends changes in human resources rules, regulations, and policy statements to respond to new legislation, court decisions and requests for changes
• Supervises one or more labor relations and/or administrative staff as needed

Qualifications

Senior Attorney, M-1: One year as an Assistant Attorney 3 or admission to the NYS Bar and two years of subsequent professional legal experience.

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.

Assistant Attorney 2, SG-20: Admission to NYS Bar.

Assistant Attorney 1, SG-18: Law School Graduation (or other eligibility to take the NYS Bar Examination).

Note: If appointed as an Assistant Attorney 1, you will be automatically advanced to Assistant Attorney 2 upon admission to the New York State Bar. If not admitted within two years of appointment, the appointment will be terminated.

Traineeship: Entry-level appointees normally advance after each twelve months of satisfactory service to the next higher title (with salary based on performance) until reaching the full performance level of Senior Attorney. All service during the traineeship is probationary. Performance is evaluated every six months against established standards. If the final performance evaluation as an Assistant Attorney 2 and the six-month evaluation as an Assistant Attorney 3 are rated outstanding, early advancement to Senior Attorney may be possible, reducing the traineeship by six months.

Appointment Information

• NY HELPS: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program. Agencies may fill positions via permanent non-competitive appointments. Within one year of permanent appointment, non-competitive status is expected to convert to competitive status without examination, granting all rights and privileges of competitive class employees. While serving in a NY HELPS title, employees may take promotion examinations for which they are qualified.
• List Appointment: Candidates must be reachable on the Civil Service eligible list for 20-620010.
• 55 b/c Appointment: Candidates must meet eligibility requirements of the Governor's Program to Hire Individuals and Veterans with Disabilities (Civil Service Law 55b/c). Details at https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/.
• Transfer: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive service in a title eligible for transfer via Sections 52.6 of the Civil Service Law. Transfer eligibility information may be available at http://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/. Note: Under Civil Service Law, an employee cannot have two consecutive upward 70.1 or 52.6 transfers without an intervening eligible list appointment if such transfers would exceed two salary grades.

Compensation

• Senior Attorney (M-1 Level): $97,874 – $123,715
• Assistant Attorney 3 (Grade NS-22): $86,256
• Assistant Attorney 2 (Grade NS-20): $77,670
• Assistant Attorney 1 (Grade NS-18): $70,139

Positions located within the New York City metropolitan area, as well as Suffolk, Nassau, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, are eligible for an additional $4,150 annual downstate adjustment.

Employment Type

Permanent appointment.

Please note that a change in negotiating unit may affect your salary, insurance, and other benefits.