TENTATIVE                 

            Occ. Code 6646210

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

            Law Department Investigators (LDIs) conduct or supervise field investigations that secure, analyze, and evaluate facts and information necessary to support the States position in various types of legal actions which include statutorily mandated defense work performed for the Division of State Counsel and proactive investigations performed for the Divisions of Social Justice and Economic Justice.  Law Department Investigators must be knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and laws of every agency that the Attorney General represents. 

            Positions in this series exist in the Office of the Attorney Generals Investigations Division and are assigned to regional offices throughout the State.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 1:  entry level; assigned to less complex investigations, or may work as a member of a team assigned to a more complex investigation.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 2:  full performance level; assigned and more frequently undertake the most demanding investigations; may supervise Law Department Investigators 1, may act as a team leader, and may provide on-the-job training to Law Department Investigators 1.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 3:  performs the most complex investigations; supervises several lower level Law Department Investigators in a geographic area.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 4:  highest level in the series; supervises lower level Law Department Investigators; responsible for managing investigations in a wide geographic area of the State; assists the Assistant Deputy Chief Investigator and the Deputy Chief Investigator in the performance of their duties.

COMPLEXITY

In this series complexity is determined by the following factors: the magnitude of the matter being investigated; the facts and circumstances surrounding the matter; intricacy of required proof; the type and availability of evidence; and the length and scope of the investigation.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 1  

Works under the general supervision of a Law Department Investigator 2 or 3.

In defending claims actions against the State:

·      Identifies pertinent issues involved in an assigned case, and locates and interviews witnesses to an incident or situation in question.

·      Retains a written record of comments elicited from witnesses.

·      Resolves/attempts to resolve conflicting evidence though further interviewing or by comparison to other known facts; obtains signed statements or affidavits from witnesses.

·      Searches for and obtains official documents pertaining to an investigation including letters to officials, police reports, court records, deeds and insurance claims.

·      Obtains physical evidence such as material samples, components of machinery in question and photographs of the scene.

·      Interviews officials named in a claim.

·      Recommends the retention of expert witnesses.

·      Communicates with the tortfeasor or their insurance to preserve the States interests.

In affirmative actions brought by the OAG:

·      Negotiates with tortfeasor or their insurer to attempt to reach a settlement.

·      Prepares a written report of the conduct and results of the investigation detailing any settlements agreed to.

·      Conducts investigations into the violation of a variety of laws of the State of New York.

·      Follows all leads with the purpose of obtaining evidence for the States case.

·      Interviews and interrogates all witnesses, obtaining depositions when possible.

·      Obtains all pertinent available documentary and physical evidence, and arranges for expert witnesses when necessary.

·      Prepares written reports of investigations, analyzing facts and explaining the results.

·      Assists the attorney in the preparation and conduct of cases.

·      Informs the attorney when legal papers are needed to conduct an investigation and serves such papers.

·      Presents the attorney with a written report of the investigation, including all tangible evidence.

·      Assists in preparing evidence for court and arranges for the appearance of all witnesses.

·      Assists the attorney at trial and presents testimony as required.

·      Assists in processing actions dictated by the decisions of the court.

·      Performs undercover investigations as required.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 2

 Works under the general supervision of a Law Department Investigator 3 or 4.

·      Performs the duties of a Law Department Investigator 1 in the more difficult and complex cases.

·      Acts as a team leader in highly complex investigations requiring the services of a group of Law Department Investigators.

·      May coordinate the efforts of other investigators, professionals and para-professionals assigned to the investigation, including investigators from other jurisdictions.

·      May supervise and/or provide on-the-job training to Law Department Investigator Trainees and Law Department Investigators 1.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 3  

Works under the general supervision of a Law Department Investigator 4.

·      Provides investigative services to a group of regional offices through the supervision of subordinate Law Department Investigators; assigns casework.

·      Supports and implements official policies and programs of the unit and the Department.

·      Conducts training and development for investigators and evaluates their performance.

·      May be responsible for a caseload.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 4

Works under the general supervision of the Deputy Chief Investigator.

·      Provides investigative services by assigning casework within a wide geographic region.

·      May conduct training at seminars for Investigators.

·      Positions are not responsible for carrying a caseload. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

            LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 1

Open-Competitive:  two years of college study, sixty semester credit hours AND four years of experience conducting field investigations preliminary to civil litigation or criminal prosecution. Duties must include all phases of investigations. This experience must have included conducting interviews of witnesses and others, conducting interrogations, taking written statements and affidavits, collecting and analyzing physical and documentary evidence, preparing detailed written reports of investigative findings, and testifying in court or at formal hearings.

Candidates must meet established physical and medical requirements for appointment to the position and must possess and maintain a valid New York State motor vehicle operators license.

Fingerprinting and a thorough character investigation are part of the selection process.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 2

Promotion:  one year of permanent competitive service as a Law Department Investigator 1.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 3

Promotion:  one year of permanent competitive service as a Law Department Investigator 2.

LAW DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR 4

Promotion:  one year of permanent competitive service as a Law Department Investigator 3, or two years of permanent competitive service as a Law Department Investigator 2.

Date:   11/08

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.