Department of Civil Service

Description:

Interns with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services will assist the Division of Legal Affairs in completing its duties at OCFS. OCFS serves New York's public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of New York States' children, families and communities. OCFS' main office is at 52 Washington Street in Rensselaer, NY, which is just across the Hudson River from New York State's capital city of Albany and next to the capital district's Amtrak Station. OCFS provides free parking and is easily reached by bus transportation.
Interns will receive a fully immersive hands-on practical learning experience, and discover what it means to function as an attorney for OCFS. OCFS' legal staff provides legal support for a vast and diverse array of topics including, but not limited to, juvenile justice, adoption, foster care, day care, child protective services, adult protective services, domestic violence victims' services, and general administrative concerns (e.g., Freedom of Information Law, ethics issues and contracts). Intern experiences and duties will include assisting in administrative enforcement investigations and hearings; attending administrative hearings; assisting in drafting legislation and agency rule making; review of contracts, Freedom of Information Law requests and child protective services indications; researching vital statutory issues to provide integral legal advice to OCFS; and drafting significant memoranda for various issues facing OCFS.

Skills:

Strong desire to learn

Good time management

Ability to multi-task

Attention to detail

Sound written and oral skills

Internship Areas: Legal Specialties