Social Services Attorney

Cayuga County New York; City of Auburn (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cayuga County in New York is seeking a qualified attorney to serve as legal advisor to the Department of Social Services. The role involves providing counsel under general direction, with wide latitude for independent judgment on welfare-related matters.

Primary duties include preparing actions for negotiation/trial, pursuing child support cases, and coordinating investigations and appeals as needed. Strong knowledge of state and federal welfare laws is essential.

Qualifications

• Admitted to the New York State Bar.
• Knowledge of common law and civil court procedures as they apply to social welfare.

Responsibilities

• Acts as legal consultant to the Department of Social Services.
• Prepares all legal actions for negotiation and trial.
• Prepares cases involving child support enforcement.
• Directs investigations in locating absent parents, paternity actions and collections, modification and enforcement of support including attending court, trying paternity cases, and handling subsequent appeals.
• Does related work as assigned.

Skills

Common law knowledge

Civil procedure

Welfare law familiarity

Legal judgment

Education

Bar admission NY

Job description

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Admission to the bar of the State of New York.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

Acts as legal advisor and general consultant to the Department of Social Services; does related work as required. This is professional legal work involving responsibility for providing counsel to the County Department of Social Services. The work is performed under general direction of the Director of Community Services in accordance with overall policies of the county with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment in applying legal knowledge to specific problems and the taking of appropriate legal action. Supervision may be exercised over the work of subordinate employees.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative Only)

• Acts as legal consultant to the Department of Social Services.
• Prepares all legal actions for negotiation and trial.
• Prepares cases involving child support enforcement.
• Directs investigations and legal activities in locating absent parents, paternity actions and collections, modification and enforcement of support including attending court, trying paternity cases, and handling subsequent appeals.
• Does related work as assigned.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES, PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Good knowledge of the principles and practices of common law and of County, State, and Federal laws as they apply to social welfare.
• Good knowledge of civil court procedures and the rules of evidence.
• Good knowledge of the general functions and administrative activities of the County Department of Social Services.
• Ability to analyze, appraise, and apply legal principles, facts and precedence to legal problems.
• Good command of language.
• Tact and courtesy.
• Good professional judgment.
• Good address.
• Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.