September 08, 2023

PURSUE A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE AS AN ATTORNEY WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK




NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCES ONLINE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION NOW AVAILABLE TO PURSUE PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS AS ATTORNEYS

The New York State Department of Civil Service (DCS) has announced that individuals interested in a career as an attorney in New York State public service can now apply and complete the Legal Specialties exam online. The civil service exam is held continuously and is used to fill multiple attorney titles across New York State agencies. 

Click Here for more information.


People interested in being considered for attorney positions within state government must first meet the minimum qualifications for the exam, which requires candidates to be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LLB or JD degree or be eligible to take the New York State Bar exam. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications should apply for and complete the exam to be considered for available positions. The online exam will require candidates to provide information about their training and experience with an online questionnaire that is completed and submitted by the candidate. Candidates should be prepared to provide detailed information on their education, work experience, dates of employment, and supervisor contact information to answer the questions completely.

The exam is used to fill the following titles at multiple agencies:

  • Senior Attorney
  • Senior Attorney (Realty)
  • Senior Attorney (Financial Services)
  • Hearing Officer
  • Motor Vehicle Referee/Motor Vehicle Referee (Spanish Language)
  • Unemployment Insurance Referee/Unemployment Insurance Referee (Spanish Language)
  • Several positions within the Legal Specialties Traineeship

All positions include generous benefits including paid leave, health benefits, and retirement plans, and telecommuting options may be available to employees in these titles who meet certain criteria.  

It is estimated that approximately 100 attorney positions will be filled statewide over the next year.

Click Here to learn more about working for the State of New York and how to take the next step in pursuing a rewarding career in public service.

As part of the launch of the Legal Specialties exam, New York State has launched a statewide social media campaign, which will include videos and web content to help attract candidates to apply for the exam. Campaign content and additional information and resources to help candidates complete the exam is available at www.cs.ny.gov/legal-specialties.