Associate Counsel - VID 225123

State of New York; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

State of New York’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control seeks an experienced attorney to draft legislation, analyze proposals, and advise agency staff on legal implications affecting programs. You will prepare memoranda, respond to requests for legal decisions, and assess the impact of new laws and rules on agency operations.

Qualified candidates must be admitted to the New York State Bar in good standing and have at least four years of post‑admission professional legal experience, plus

Qualifications

• Must be admitted to the New York State Bar in good standing and have four years of professional legal experience.
• Ability to analyze legislation for legal sufficiency and impact on agency programs.
• Experience drafting legislation and supporting memoranda for executive staff and legislative leaders.

Responsibilities

• Drafts proposed legislation and provides legal advice to agency staff.
• Analyzes proposed laws for compliance and impact on agency programs.
• Reviews changes in laws and regulations and proposes necessary amendments.
• Drafts memoranda and prepares requests to Executive staff, Governor’s Office, and legislative leaders for introduction.
• Provides legal opinions and conducts research to respond to requests for decisions.

Skills

Legal analysis

Legislation drafting

Advisory skills

Research

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Duties

• Prepares drafts of proposed legislation and its submission after review to the Legislature, and advises agency staff concerning legislation which affects programs, in order to provide a comprehensive legislative program for the agency.
• Analyzes legislation proposed by others for legal sufficiency and\/or effect on agency programs.
• Reviews, analyzes, and comments on changes in laws, rules, regulations, etc., concerning effect on agency programs, to determine need for changes in agency laws, discusses with pertinent program area staff, and presents proposals to superiors.
• Recommends technical corrections and amendments to existing laws.
• Drafts legislation and supporting memoranda and prepare requests to Executive staff, Governor’s Office and legislative leaders for introduction.
• Identifies and analyzes pertinent bills introduced by others and writes memoranda evaluating the effects of such bills for superiors and program staff. Discusses proposed and new legislation with agency personnel, legislators and staff.
• Advises executive and program staff in agency of progress of bills and new legislation and prepares digest and publications concerning approved legislation.
• May draft recommendations of approval or veto for Governor’s Office.
• Recommends changes in or proposes new agency rules, regulations, policy statements, etc.
• Analyzes new legislation for impact on agency rules, regulations, etc.
• Proposes changes in rules, regulations, etc. to conform with new legislation and court determinations.
• Analyzes request for such changes and new rules, regulations, etc. and provides opinions to program administrators and Executive staff. Provides legal advice and opinions to agency staff, complainants and others in connection with the activities and services provided by the agency.
• Conducts legal research of statutes, decisions, opinions, and other legal sources in order to respond, both orally and in writing, to requests for legal decisions and opinions.
• Research requests and inquiries from agency staff and prepare legal decisions and opinions, and consult with staff regularly.
• Reviews agency programs from a legal viewpoint and suggests changes.
• Interprets pertinent laws, rules, regulations, procedures, etc.
• Reviews, comments on and approves press releases, bulletins, forms, pamphlets, etc., related to the legal aspects of agency activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Salary

• $120,471 - $152,238/year

Qualifications

Admission to, and member in good standing of, the New York State Bar and four years of subsequent professional legal experience.

NOTE: IN ORDER TO AWARD THE PROPER CREDIT FOR WORK EXPERIENCE, RESUMES MUST INCLUDE MONTH AND YEAR FOR START AND END DATES. IF ANY OF THIS EXPERIENCE IS LESS THAN FULL TIME YOU MUST INDICATE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED PER WEEK.

Other Information

• Travel may be required (approximately 5%), including during evening and weekends, depending on mission and assignment.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Driver’s License issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicle is required or otherwise demonstrate the capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job.

The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is an Equal Opportunity Affiendative Action Employer. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience are encouraged to apply. New York State Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, familial status, citizen or immigration status, sex, disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, prior arrests, prior conviction records, predisposing genetic characteristics or domestic violence victim status. The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is committed to a workplace free from discrimination based on the referenced characteristics and other federal and state protected characteristics.

NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.