Residence Requirements:

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There are four anticipated vacancies at the Erie County Department of Social Services.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will supersede Eligible List #42-182 established on May 4, 2018 upon establishment.

Examples of Duties:

A Counsel (Social Services) gives legal advice and counsel to administrative employees of the Department of Social Services;

Renders legal opinions on individual case problems;

Gives counsel and advice on the interpretation of local, State and Federal laws;

Coordinates activities in the legal area of the Department;

Represents the Department in the prosecution of civil suits;

Participates in the defense of civil suits against the Department;

Participates in the areas of neglect and abuse, resident support, non-resident support and paternity proceedings in Family Court;

Participates in civil fraud cases;

Approves legal requirements in agency adoptions;

Recovers claims against estates of deceased recipients in Surrogate's Court and on liens from personal injury claims in Supreme Court;

Presents cases for Department in Fair Hearings before Hearing Officer;

Conducts incompetency and conservatorship proceedings in the Supreme Court and handles all appeals in these proceedings;

Participates in Juvenile Delinquent and PINS proceedings;

Participates in Medicaid and Temporary Assistance proceedings;

Maintains confidential files, and sensitive records;

Participates in related legal work as required.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet the following requirements on or before November 6, 2019:

Admission to the Bar of the State of New York and one (1) year of experience* in the practice of child abuse/neglect law, child support enforcement law, family law, public interest law, poverty law, elder law or welfare fraud law, or criminal prosecution.

NOTE: *Completion of (24) semester credit hours at a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university in any combination of the following fields of law school study: child abuse/neglect law, child support enforcement law, family law, public interest law, poverty law, elder law or welfare fraud law, or criminal prosecution may be substituted for the required one (1) year of experience

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants for designated positions in the Department of Social Services that may have access to federal tax information to perform his/her job duties shall be subject to a suitability background check investigation, including FBI fingerprinting, local law enforcement check, and verification check of citizenship/residency. A criminal record does not necessarily disqualify applicants from employment, rather an individualized determination will be made. The cost of the background check will be assumed by the Department of Social Services.

Notes:

1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting the experience requirements.

2. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.
All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. 

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION:  There will be NO written or oral test for this examination. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will receive an evaluation of their training and experience against the background of the duties of the position. 

Attach to your application a summary of your training and experience. Be as concrete and specific as possible; vagueness and ambiguity will not be resolved in your favor.

In your summary of training indicate all, training including any formal coursework which was not a part of a degree program or which has not yet resulted in a degree. Indicate your participation in any continuing education programs including any convocations, seminars, workshops, etc., in which you have participated over the past five years. Show the approximate dates and length of such programs and the nature of your participation.

In your summary of experience include a comprehensive description of each relevant position you have held and the duties of the position. Also where applicable, indicate the percentage of time spent in performing specific duties.

Candidate Responsibility: It is the responsibility of candidates to provide all necessary documentation and to complete all relevant parts of the application. To receive credit for experience--either qualifying or against a rating scale--they must show basic information such as employer name and address, name and title of supervisor, hours worked per week, dates of employment to include month and year started and ended, etc. A copy of a verifiable transcript for required education and a copy of the required license or professional certificate must be submitted.

All information must be submitted by close of filing. Candidates who submit incomplete applications and documentation may be disqualified. There will be no written or oral test for this examination.  If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will receive a rating based upon an evaluation of your training and experience against the duties of the position being tested.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.