Division of Regional Affairs
Utica Regional Office
Student Mediator
Reference No. UTC_PUGS_SUM_2024

Application Deadline is March 1, 2024*
Paid Summer Placement for Undergraduate Students

The Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) is seeking an undergraduate student to serve as a student
mediator for pay in the Utica Regional Office (RO). In addition to its other activities, the RO prosecutes businesses and
individuals engaged in fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or illegal trade practices, and mediates thousands of
complaints each year from individual consumers. A large percentage of these complaints are resolved satisfactorily
through an informal mediation process. The student mediator is an integral part of this mediation process.

Student mediators act as consumer advocates in negotiating consumer complaints with merchants. Each student
mediator is assigned a docket of consumer 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 student is exposed to the Offices procedures and philosophy and deals directly with consumers and merchants to
resolve the complaints. Students are taught interviewing techniques and will have the opportunity to develop analytical
skills as they learn to focus on the underlying issues to reach a resolution of each complaint. While each complaint is
reviewed by a member of our professional staff, the students typically exercise significant discretion and independent
judgment. Consumer Representatives and experienced attorneys supervise the students.

Summer Program Details

• The format of this placement is hybrid or remote. Please review the following

format options.

• Students who are working in a hybrid placement may report to their designated workstation two or

three (2-3) days per week. On the days student will be working remotely, they will need to have access
to a reliable computer, a secure internet connection, a phone and a sufficiently quiet and private
workspace to telework.

• Students who are working a remote placement will telecommute for the duration of their placements.

Students in this format must have access to a reliable computer, a secure internet connection, a phone
and a sufficiently quiet and private workspace to telework. Please be advised, students hired for remote,
paid placements must be available to complete their payroll onboarding paperwork in-person at the
OAGs offices in Albany or New York City or at one of the 13 regional office locations around New York
State.

• 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 fall 2024 semester will not be considered.

• Undergraduate student hired for the program will work full-time (37.5 hours/week) for the 8 weeks of the

program.

• Applications will be received online until March 1, 2023, and paid placement offers will be made on a rolling

basis.*

• Undergraduate students will be hired as student assistants and paid the hourly rate of $15.45.
• The program will run from May 20, 2024 July 12, 2024. Students hired for the program must be available to
  

in the U.S.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The OAG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to workplace diversity.

HOW TO APPLY

The following section provides detailed information about the application process and application requirements.
Please review the complete list of instructions prior to preparing and submitting your application materials online.

• Applications for summer placements are being received online. To apply, click on the following link:
  

UTC_PUGS_SUM_2024

• Please apply to no more than three (3) bureaus/regional offices.
  

• Applications are submitted separately for each bureau/regional office, and an applicants candidacy for each

application is determined separately by each bureau/regional office.

• The application deadline is March 1, 2023, but please be advised paid placements will be filled on a rolling basis.
  

• The following four (4) documents are required for each application that is submitted:

1. Cover Letter

• You may choose to address the letter to the Legal Recruitment Unit, 28 Liberty Street, New

York, NY, 10005.

• Indicate why you are interested in a placement with the OAG and what makes you a strong

candidate.

• Please indicate your format preference: hybrid or remote.

2. Resume

• Ensure your resume is complete and current prior to submitting your application.

3. List of three (3) references.

• Submit only professional (i.e., supervisor or professor) references.
• Indicate the nature and duration of your relationship to each reference.
• Include contact information and email addresses for each reference.
• Please note, your references will not be contacted until after you interview for the placement.

4. Writing Sample
- Select a sample from an assignment you prepared for school that demonstrates your ability to

• Failure to submit a complete application will delay the consideration of your candidacy.
• Please submit your application for a summer placement at least three (3) weeks prior to any deadlines that could

impact your candidacy and note this in your cover letter.

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