Searcher/Testifier (Per Diem)

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) provides for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and maintains and enhances the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of City residents. DOT is an equal opportunity employer, committed to recruiting and maintaining a diverse workforce in an open and inclusive environment.

The Litigation Services unit handles requests for Agency records and witness appearances in the defense of approximately 3,000 personal injury cases each year. The unit seeks a highly organized and self-motivated candidate with experience working with electronically filed records and researching, identifying, collecting, and producing digital records.

The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced paperless office and will be required to follow our Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in order to produce reliable, consistent and accurate records that will be defensible under oath at depositions and trials. The successful candidate is expected to achieve proficiency, after appropriate training, in performing complete electronic records searches of several databases and web applications. The successful candidate should also possess superior verbal communication skills. The successful candidate may be required to routinely travel to offices and courthouses in all 5 boroughs, approximately 3 times each week, to testify under oath at Examinations Before Trial and at Trials.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION CANDIDATE MUST BE SERVING PERMANENTLY IN THE TITLE OF PARALEGAL AIDE, OR REACHABLE ON THE PARALEGAL AIDE CIVIL SERVICE LIST, OR ELIGIBLE UNDER THE 55A PROGRAM.

Minimum Qualifications

1.A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); or

2.An associate degree or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and two years of full-time satisfactory experience, acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or

3.A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of full-time satisfactory experience, acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or

4.A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1", "2" or "3" above. Paralegal Certification obtained in the United States from an accredited program or from a program approved by the American Bar Association can be substituted for 12 months of experience.

Undergraduate credit can be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 12 months of experience. However, all candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization.

To be acceptable, experience in paralegal (legal assistant) services must have involved the American Legal System.

Experience which is primarily legal secretarial or includes only incidental paralegal (legal assistant) services is not acceptable.

Special Note:

Individuals must have one additional year of pertinent paralegal experience or have a baccalaureate degree in addition to the requirements listed above to be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II duties and pay of Paralegal Aide.

Preferred Skills

Excellent verbal, communication and computer skills strongly desired.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.