Legal Specialties Program
Overview
Are you ready to launch your legal career as an Attorney for New York State? This examination fills a variety of Attorney positions at virtually all New York State agencies. Depending on your education, eligibility to take the New York State Bar examination or post-NYS Bar admission legal experience, you may be eligible to be appointed into a legal traineeship, or directly into a journey-level Attorney position. Start your career as an Attorney making a difference now!
Recruitment Videos
Legal Specialties Program Promotional Video
Legal Specialties Panel Video
Examination Announcement and Position Information
Exam AnnouncementClick on the button below to access the exam announcement for the Legal Specialties Program Exam.
Positions
These positions exist in multiple agencies throughout the State. Assignments will vary, depending on the particular department or agency with which you work.
**There are also several positions within the Legal Specialties Traineeship. Please refer to the examination announcement for a list of the traineeship positions and the qualifications for appointment.
Examination Process
There is no in-person multiple-choice test. To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass an online training and experience test.
State agencies have an ongoing need for persons qualified for appointment to these positions. The Department of Civil Service accepts applications continuously and rates and scores tests on a fixed schedule. All parts of the examination must be complete by the deadlines below, failure to complete by the announced deadlines may result in disqualification and your name not appearing on the eligible list.
Please note - The first holding of this examination will be July 6, 2023, through August 31, 2023.
Applications and test periods
January 1 - February 28
March 1 - April 30
May 1 - June 30
July 1 - August 31
September 1 - October 31
November 1 - December 31
How to Apply
You will need a personal NY.gov ID to apply for this examination. If you do not have a personal NY.gov ID,
please create an account.
There are three steps to apply for and take this examination. Steps 1 & 2 MUST be completed by the last day of the appropriate test period to be placed on the eligible list. Step 3 is an optional Skills Inventory Questionnaire. This examination uses a "Dashboard" to serve as a navigation tool to guide you through the examination process.
Step 1: Complete and submit the online examination application on or before 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the appropriate test period
Step 2:Complete and submit the online test. Complete your test by filling out and submitting the online questionnaire. The online questionnaire IS YOUR TEST. The online training and experience questionnaire is where you answer questions about how you meet the minimum qualifications. The online test must be completed and submitted on or before 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the appropriate test period.
Step 3 (Optional): Complete and submit the Skills Inventory Questionnaire.
Additional Information
Taking a Training and Experience Exam
For the first time ever the Legal Specialties exam will be offered online as a Training and Experience exam. If this is your first time taking an online Training and Experience exam, watch the "How To" video below: