#56820 SOCIAL SERVICES ATTORNEY

Ulster County Personnel Department

Civil Service Examination Announcement


FILING FEE $20.00

#56820 SOCIAL SERVICES ATTORNEY                                                                                    

OPEN-COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION - TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION

LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS: December 22, 2011

EXAMINATION DATE: December 22, 2011

SALARY:  The starting salary range is currently listed at $34.01 per hour.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirement(s) on or before the date of the examination:

Graduation from a law school recognized by the University of the State of New York.

Special Requirement: In order for an application to be accepted, applicant must indicate proof of admission to the Bar in New York State.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is a professional position involving the responsibility for providing legal counsel and support for the Ulster County Department of Social Services (DSS).  An employee in this class is responsible for providing legal advice and representation, as assigned, in matters before the Family Court and appellate courts, as well as related client proceedings and situations affecting the operation of DSS. The work is performed under the general direction of the Supervising Social Services Attorney of DSS, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and applying legal knowledge to specific problems and taking appropriate action. Supervision is not normally a function of this class except over clerical support staff in the normal processing of legal documents and supporting paperwork. Does related work as required.

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.

*FEES*:  Send your check or money order for twenty dollars ($20.00) (made payable to COUNTY OF ULSTER) with your application.  Please include the examination number, title, and applicant’s name on your check or money order. DO NOT SEND CASHNO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED, therefore, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the qualifications for admission and apply only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.

EXCEPTION TO FEE REQUIREMENT:  An exception to the processing fee will be made for persons receiving Supplemental Social Security payments or public assistance (Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), provided Foster Care or certified Workforce Investment Act of 1998 eligible through a state or local social service agency, and for those who are currently unemployed.  Individuals wishing to claim this waiver of fee on the basis of Supplemental Social Security, Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, must certify on their application, under number 20 Remarks, that they are receiving public assistance and must indicate the type of assistance they are receiving, the agency providing the assistance and their case numbers. Persons claiming this waiver through Foster Care or Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Certification must specify the program and name of their contact agency. Persons claiming this waiver, who are currently unemployed must certify on their application, under number 20 Remarks, that they are currently unemployed and must provide documentation that they are receiving unemployment benefits or other unemployment documentation deemed appropriate by the Ulster County Personnel Officer. Such claims are subject to later verification and, if not supported by appropriate documentation, are grounds for barring appointment.

Applications may be obtained at the Ulster County Office Building, Personnel Department, 244 Fair Street ‑ 5th Floor, P.O. Box 1800, Kingston, NY 12402‑1800 OR by mail (INCLUDE A STAMPED SELF‑ADDRESSED, LEGAL‑ SIZE ENVELOPE) OR from our website at: http://ulstercountyny.gov/personnel/index.html.  Applications must be received by the Ulster County Personnel Department or postmarked no later than the ‘LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS’ stated on page one of this announcement.

For those applications submitted in person on the last file date, please submit no later than 4:30 PM. All applications must be in our office no later than 5:00 PM on the last file date. Applications postmarked by the last file date will also be accepted.

This examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23‑2 of the Civil Service Law.  The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating of examinations will apply to this test.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION POLICY:  In accordance with Ulster County Local Law Number 14 of 2007, a criminal background check (including fingerprinting) will be initiated by the Ulster County Personnel Department upon initial employment or re-hire to Ulster County positions, and conducted by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the New York State Office of Court Administration, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Verification Information System (IMAGE Program), or any law enforcement agency.

SPECIAL NOTE:  All public agencies are required by law to provide full and equal opportunities for minorities, women and to people with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to compete without regard to race, creed or national origin. Applicants requesting special testing arrangements as a Saturday Sabbath Observer, alternate test date candidate (in accordance with Alternate Test Date Policy), or an active member of the military away from the area on the scheduled test date must clearly indicate this fact on the application. All such requests must be supported by appropriate documentation.

VETERANS: Non-disabled and disabled veterans who wish to claim additional credits must request a Veterans Credits application from our office. This form must be completed and submitted along with a war service (DD214) form prior to the establishment of the resulting eligible list. Veterans credits may only be added to a passing score and may only be used for appointment once. Candidates currently in the armed forces may apply for and be conditionally granted veteran’s credits.  Any candidate who applies for such credits must provide proof of military status to receive the conditional credits.  You may not claim additional Veterans Credits after the eligible list has been established. It is the candidate’s responsibility to request the Veterans Credits application forms and submit these forms and any required supporting paperwork before the eligible list is established.

ADDITIONAL CREDITS FOR CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY:  In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served.  If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination.  A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility.  However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE SCHEDULED ON SAME DATE:  If you have applied for any other Civil Service examinations for employment with New York State or any other local government jurisdiction, you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site.

If you have applied for both State and Local government examinations, you must make arrangements to take all your examinations at the State examination center by calling (518) 457‑7022 no later than two weeks before the test date.

If you have applied for other local government examinations, call or write to each Civil Service Agency to make arrangements.  You must make your request for these arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examination(s).  For this examination call (845) 340‑ 3531 OR write to Ulster County Personnel Department, 244 Fair Street ‑ 5th Floor, P.O. Box 1800, Kingston, NY  12402‑1800.

*If candidates have not received notification of this examination within four (4) days of the examination, they should contact this office immediately.

#56820

ORIGINAL COPY: GREEN

ISSUED:  November 22, 2011