The New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) works every day to implement the city’s Human Rights Law through enforcement, education, and outreach. The Commission seeks to address historic and contemporary inequities to cultivate a city where everyone can live, work, and thrive free from discrimination.
Through training, education, and policy initiatives, the Commission aims to root out discrimination. The Commission proactively identifies patterns of discrimination through testing employers, housing providers, and providers of public accommodation. The Commission also uses investigations, litigation, and other enforcement tools to address allegations of discrimination.
The Commission is seeking Agency Attorneys, Level 2 to join our Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB).
Agency Attorneys, Level Two, work within the Law Enforcement Bureau to enforce the New York City Human Rights Law through pre-complaint interventions, investigations, mediations, settlements, and litigation.
Level Two attorneys may serve as lead attorneys on complex litigation and investigations, and/or specialized projects in an area of developing law, procedure, or policy guidance.
Job Description:
- Interviews members of the public alleging claims of discrimination; engaging in pre-complaint interventions, investigations, and files complaints where appropriate.
- Investigates claims of discrimination made by members of the public and pattern or practice violations for potential Commission-initiated action.
- Negotiates resolutions of claims and drafts settlement agreements.
Monitors compliance with settlement agreements.
- Represents Commission in mediation.
- Litigates cases from a threshold of determination of probable cause through and including referral to the hearings division.
- Represents the Commission before an Administrative Law Judge at conferences, and engages in discovery, including taking and defending depositions.
- Litigates cases at trial through and including issuance of an Administrative Law Judge recommendation and issuance of Commission order.
- Collaborates with the Commission’s Community Relations Bureau to provide trainings and to engage in coordinated approaches to rooting out systemic discrimination.
- Represents the Commission at community events, speaking engagements, and at bar associations.
- May assist with the training and professional development of other staff.
- May serve as lead attorney on large-scale and/or complex investigations or litigation.
- May serve as lead attorney on specialized projects concerning an area of developing law, procedure or policy guidance.
- Performs all duties as needed to advance the work of Law Enforcement Bureau.
Minimum Qualifications
- Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
- One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
- Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086).
Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.
In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements: To be assigned to Assignment Level (AL) II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. To be assigned to AL III candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment.
Preferred Skills
- Strong relationships with organizations and groups serving diverse communities in the City and experience working with some of the following people and communities: immigrants; people of color; people with limited English proficiency; people living with HIV/AIDS; lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people; people with disabilities; people with accommodations issues related to pregnancy, disability or religion; and people with criminal or arrest histories.
- Must be well-organized, assertive, and able to work independently and collaboratively.
- Strong work ethic.
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Strong people skills and leadership skills.
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position