Job Description
The NYC Law Department is now accepting applications from admitted attorneys with at least one year of legal experience for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Legal Counsel Division. Attorneys with more than five years of legal experience after law school will be considered for a Senior Counsel position in the division. The Legal Counsel Division is a counseling unit that advises the Mayor, other elected officials, and City agencies on issues concerning virtually every area of municipal law. The Division provides the legal advice and crafts the legislative changes necessary to shape and implement policy initiatives. The Division is responsible for drafting State and local legislation proposed by the Mayor and City agencies, and for assisting in the drafting of administrative rules. On a daily basis, Division attorneys field questions from City Hall and City agencies on issues of overriding importance to the City as well as those regarding day-to-day administration. Division attorneys often represent the Law Department on interagency task forces considering policy initiatives and work closely with the Mayor's Offices of Intergovernmental Affairs to assist in the passage or defeat of legislation.
Applicants with at least three years of legal experience after law school are preferred.
To apply, please upload your cover letter, resume, writing sample and a list of three references with contact information as one document under “resume.”
After the completion of orientation, attorneys hired by the Law Department will have the opportunity to elect to work from home under one of the following two programs. The first option allows attorneys to work remotely on a limited and irregular basis. The second option is a Citywide pilot program, which allows participants to select two set days to work from home each week. The two days will need to be approved by the attorney’s division and take into consideration the needs of the division, as the pilot program requires more than 50% staff coverage each day. In addition, if an attorney needs to appear in court, a client meeting or other in-person work related event on a set work from home day, they will need to attend to those in-person responsibilities and will not be able to work from home that day. Participants in the pilot program must set one work from home location where they will work remotely. This pilot program is currently being tested Citywide to determine its efficacy for City agencies and is not yet a permanent program.
Applicants must be a graduate of an ABA accredited law school with at least one year of legal experience. Applicants must be admitted and in good standing in New York State. Preference will be given to applicants with legislative drafting experience, and strong legal analysis and writing skills.
Applicants with at least three years of legal experience after law school are preferred.
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
New York City Residency is not required for this position
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.