Job Description

The Office of the New York State Attorney General’s (OAG) Rochester Regional Office is seeking undergraduate students to serve as student mediators for pay. The office prosecutes businesses and individuals engaged in fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or illegal trade practices. In addition to litigating, the office mediates thousands of complaints each year from individual consumers. The students will mediate individual complaints filed by consumers against businesses, answer inquiries from the public on a variety of topics, and support investigations into larger patterns of fraud or illegality. Applicants must be available to begin their placement in mid-May and work through at least the end of August.

Mediation is an informal process where we act as a neutral third party and attempt to assist consumers and businesses in resolving disputes on a voluntary basis. A large percentage of these complaints are resolved satisfactorily through this process. The student will be assigned a docket of complaint files covering a broad range of consumer issues including retail sales, mail order transactions, credit transactions, telemarketing, warranty problems, home repair, and automobiles.

The students will learn interviewing techniques and develop analytical skills. While each complaint is reviewed by an employee, the student typically exercises significant discretion and independent judgment. OAG professional staff and attorneys are always available to answer questions. The placement affords the student an unusual degree of responsibility and requires the student to display excellent judgment.

Student mediators also answer phone inquiries from the public. When the call is related to a consumer matter, the student will assist the caller in filing a complaint and explaining our mediation program. We also receive calls on a range of topics that are not appropriate for our mediation program. In those instances, the students will help those callers find the best assistance possible elsewhere. Extensive and ongoing phone training is provided, and students receive support and coaching from permanent staff. Students develop excellent communication skills, including effectively and productively handling conversations with dissatisfied callers.

Applicants must be articulate, analytical, creative, and organized. No specific experience is required.

Placement Details

• This placement requires in-office work. On their scheduled workdays, the selected students must be available to report to the Rochester Office located at 144 Exchange Blvd in Rochester, New York.

• To be eligible for a paid summer placement, applicants must be able to demonstrate they are full-time students in good academic standing as defined by their schools. Applications from students who will be starting college/university during the 2025 fall semester will not be considered.

• Applicants must be available to work 15 hours per week during regular business hours from mid-May to late August. Students who are available to continue working during the academic year are strongly preferred. Please be advised that reappointment for additional semesters/terms is possible but neither automatic nor guaranteed.

• Applications are accepted online until February 28, 2025, and paid placement offers are made on a rolling basis.*

• Undergraduate students will be hired as student assistants and paid the hourly rate of $15.91.

• United States (U.S.) citizenship and New York state residency are not required, but applicants must be eligible to be employed in the U.S.

• Applicants are encouraged to learn more about OAG bureaus and regional offices prior to submitting their applications by reviewing information that is available on the public website.

Application Process

• Applications are accepted online until February 28, 2025, and paid placement offers are made on a rolling basis.*

• The following four (4) documents are required for your application:

1. Cover Letter: Address your letter to the Legal Recruitment Unit. Indicate why you are interested in a placement with OAG and what makes you a strong candidate.

1. Resume: Ensure your resume is complete and current prior to submitting your application.

1. List of three (3) references: Submit only professional (i.e., supervisor or professor) references. Include contact information and email addresses for each reference.

1. Writing Sample: Submit a sample that demonstrates your ability to analyze and organize information into an effective document. We recommend submitting a sample that is 3-6 pages in length.

If you have questions about a placement with OAG, the application process, or need assistance with submitting your application, please contact Legal Recruitment via email at recruitment@ag.ny.gov.

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