Principal Court Attorney

Duties Description DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Principal Court Attorneys serve in a confidential capacity and are responsible for
overseeing the operations of special parts, terms or departments in courts with a service population exceeding 400,000. They
assist the Chief Court Attorney or Supervising Court Attorney in formulation and implementation of office policy, supervision and
administering the operations of a law department. Principal Court Attorneys research and analyze complex legal issues and
questions for the court, may be designated to act as special referees and perform other related duties.
ASSIGNMENT: This position is assigned to the Onondaga County Surrogate’s Court. Duties include but are not limited to:
overseeing and managing all guardianship filings within the Surrogate’s Court; review filings for proper form and statutory
compliance; setting and conducting guardianship calendars, hearings, and conferences; providing legal guidance to staff regarding
filing and service requirements, notice to interested parties, fiduciary eligibility, and appointments; overseeing Article 17 and 17-A
guardianship proceedings and trust matters; reviewing wrongful death settlements and fiduciary accountings prior to submission to
the judge; and organizing educational outreach programs for the local bar; advising staff on interactions with pro se litigants. Some
travel may be required.

Minimum Qualifications Admission to the New York State Bar; and Three (3) years of service in the Associate Court Attorney title;
or Eight (8) years of relevant legal experience gained after admission to the New York State Bar.

Additional Comments APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications must submit a UCS-5 Application for
Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at
cover letter, and resume by email to [email protected] or by mail to:
DONALD C. DOERR, ESQ.
DISTRICT EXECUTIVE
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
600 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 300
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 13202
APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DATA COLLECTION FORM.
POSTING DATE: March 11, 2026 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: April 8, 2026

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.