Legal Assistant 2
- Multiple-choice Test To Be Held
- December 19, 2026
You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test.
You cannot request or change your scheduled day. - Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By
- November 04, 2026
| Exam Number | Exam Title | Open to Employees of | Salary | Salary Grade | Non−Refundable Processing Fee (Waivers available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-543020 | Legal Assistant 2 | Multiple Agencies | * | G-17 | $0 |
| Salary Grade | *Salary | $66,212 (PEF) $60,994 (Thruway) $69,770 (MC) |
|---|
Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.
Interdepartmental promotion examination open to all qualified employees of New York State.
For Promotion in State Departments, Facilities, and Agencies
1. Within Promotion Units 2. Within Entire Departments 3. To Other Departments
Minimum Qualifications
On or before December 19, 2026, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had 45 days of permanent competitive, non-competitive NY HELPS**, or 55-b/55-c service as a Legal Assistant 1, Legal Assistant 1 (Spanish Language), Legal Assistant Trainee 2, Legal Assistant Trainee 2 (Spanish Language), Legal Assistant Trainee 1, or Legal Assistant Trainee 1 (Spanish Language). If you have received a permanent appointment to a qualifying title listed and served provisionally*** in that title immediately preceding your permanent appointment, such provisional service may be counted towards meeting the time in title required for this examination.
Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.
If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before November 4, 2026, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.
**If you were permanently appointed via the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) program to a qualifying title in the non-competitive class on or before November 4, 2026, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you may apply for this examination.
***If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title and had provisional service in the same title immediately preceding the permanent appointment, such provisional service may be counted towards meeting the time in title required to apply for this examination. Your provisional appointment must have been on or before November 4, 2026, to qualify for this examination.
Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List: After one year of service at the full performance level described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.
Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program to a qualifying title in the non-competitive class will have their names restricted from appointment from the eligible list until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by action of the New York State Civil Service Commission or otherwise obtain permanent competitive status in the position.
If you have received a permanent appointment to a qualifying title listed and served provisionally in that title immediately preceding your permanent appointment, such provisional service may be counted towards meeting the time in title required for appointment from the eligible list.
The Positions: These positions exist in various State agencies and are located statewide.
Duties
As a Legal Assistant 2, under the general direction of staff attorneys in various areas of law, you would be responsible for compiling and organizing documentation; preparing and assisting in the preparation of legal documents and forms; ensuring court documents, including judgments, are properly and timely filed; logging information; and preparing correspondence and subpoenas. You would respond to inquiries and complaints, track cases, maintain calendars, and ensure deadlines are met. You might prepare and maintain files, cases, and calendars, interview witnesses and clients, respond to inquiries and complaints, record and monitor the status of legislation, conduct research into complex legal matters, analyze materials, and present both verbal and written comments on your findings, and gather and create materials and summaries of legislation and current legal developments pertinent to the agency. The use of computer software and the Internet is integral to these positions and may be used in any of the following areas: preparing documents, creating or updating databases or spreadsheets, tracking and researching assignments or litigation, and communicating. You might supervise paraprofessional or clerical staff. You might take depositions and summarize trial transcripts, review discovery demands and serve or arrange service of subpoenas. You might calculate monies owed to the State and determine responsible parties. This position requires the ability to work independently and is characterized by increased responsibility and greater freedom of judgment than is typical of a Legal Assistant 1.
Notes:
1. Travel Requirements: At the time of appointment and continuously thereafter, you may be required to have a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State or otherwise demonstrate your ability to meet the transportation needs of the job, which may include travel to various places including correctional facilities and courthouses.
2. Some positions may be created that require Spanish language proficiency. The eligible list established as a result of this examination will be used to fill those positions, and eligibles will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the Spanish language at a level that will ensure their ability to perform the duties of the position properly. If other language parenthetics are established, the eligible list will also be used to fill those positions and appointees will be required to demonstrate their language proficiency prior to appointment.
Subject of Examination
To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test. The multiple-choice test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:
- Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
- Evaluating conclusions in light of known facts - These questions will consist of a set of facts and a conclusion. You must decide if the conclusion is proved by the facts, disproved by the facts or if the facts are not sufficient to prove or disprove the conclusion. The questions will not be specific to a particular field.
- Legal terminology, documents and forms - These questions test for the ability to recognize definitions of specific common legal terms or the term which fits a certain description. The questions are presented in various forms such as simple definitions, examples of terminology, and the use of this terminology within documents and forms related to the legal field.
- Interviewing - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in obtaining information from individuals through structured conversations. These questions require you to apply the principles, practices, and techniques of effective interviewing to hypothetical interviewing situations. Included are questions that present a problem arising from an interviewing situation, and you must choose the most appropriate course of action to take.
Test Guide: A General Guide to the Multiple-Choice Test for the Legal Assistant 2 Series exam is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm. If Sample Test Material is available for a subject area described above, it can be found at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/sampletestmat.cfm.
If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any Veterans' credits.
Credit For Seniority: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.
Admission To The Test: If approved for a multiple-choice test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.
Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include notification of your application status, your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.
How To Apply
You Can Also
- Download examination application NYS-APP form; or
- Email cs.sm.examinfo@cs.ny.gov to request NYS-APP forms; or
- Obtain an NYS-APP form from a State agency or facility personnel/business office; or
- Request NYS-APP form by calling the Department of Civil Service in the Albany area at 518-457-2487 or toll free at 1-877-697-5627.
The NYS Department of Civil Service reserves the right to reject for lateness or to accept applications filed after the advertised filing period. All statements you make on your application are subject to investigation.
Additional Information
New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.
Religious Accommodation
Most multiple-choice tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).
Reasonable Accommodations in Testing
It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Accommodation Unit of the Department of Civil Service at Testaccommodation@cs.ny.gov.
Admission to Examination
If you do not receive your notice to appear for your multiple-choice test by three days prior to the exam date, please send an email to AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please include your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your multiple-choice test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area, or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear and concise message, and provide your first and last name, the last four digits of your social security number, and a phone number where you can be reached during regular business hours. Please note: Receiving a notice to appear for a test does not guarantee you have been qualified for the examination. You may receive a notice to take the test before your application is fully reviewed and approved. You may also be asked to provide additional information regarding your application. If it is determined that you are not qualified for the examination, you will be notified that your application for this examination has been disqualified. If you are disqualified after appearing for the test, you will not receive a score or be active for appointment from the eligible list.
Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day
If you have applied to take a multiple-choice test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this multiple-choice test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.
Eligibility for Examination
To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.
Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site
The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.
S3/TC1 SER-skh
Issued: 10/2/26
This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.