Assistant General Counsel

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety.

The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody.

Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities.

The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts.

The DOC seeks to recruit a highly motivated Agency Attorney to join the DOC’s Legal Division. The Legal Division serves as in-house counsel for the Department under the supervision of the General Counsel.

Agency Attorneys work under the supervision of Senior Attorneys and receive training and practical experience in all tasks performed in the DOC Legal Division. Attorneys in the Legal Division advise on a wide range of matters including legal, policy, operational, and administrative issues.

The Agency Attorney will assist with the diverse range of legal issues that may affect the Department of Correction. Duties of the Agency Attorney include:

• Investigate and preparing responses to administrative complaints brought by employees involving violations of various equal employment statutes.
• Implementing terms of Consent Judgments and settlements and advocating for compliance and ultimate termination of oversight.
• Investigating, preparing responses to, and appearing on Article 78 petitions and Writs of Habeas Corpus.
• Assist the NYC Law Department by engaging in the defense of the DOC and its employees in matters arising under Section 1983 of the federal Civil Rights Law, State common law tort cases, equal employment law.

This also includes participating in the defense of cases that injunctive relief and, when appropriate, engaging in difficult and involved negations and implementation of said relief upon settlement.

• Identifying and preparing Department employees for testimony in various venues.
• Draft contracts, memoranda of understanding, stipulations, affidavits, as well as various other pleading-type documents.
• Advising Executive Staff of the legality of potential policy changes.
• Analyzes, studies, and reports on the effects of city, state, and federal legislation.
• Assisting the Department in rulemaking, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Assisting the Department in all aspects of the Board of Correction (“BOC”) rulemaking process, including fact-finding, legal research and analysis, consultation with the Law Department, and translation of Department policies and practices into draft BOC rules, or amendments thereto, if necessary.
• Collaborate with BOC, H+H, and other City agencies, City Hall, City Council, and external criminal justice stakeholders.
• Supervise junior attorneys, revising and approving work.
• Providing advice and counsel to ensure the Department meets on statutory and regulatory requirements, including advising the Department on, and interpreting, federal, state and local laws and regulations that affect or inform the Department’s work.
• Prepares for and/or tires complex cases in Supreme Court.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

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.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance for the employee and his/her spouse or domestic partner and unemancipated children under age 26, union benefits such as dental and vision coverage, paid annual leave and sick leave, paid holidays, a pension, and optional savings and pre-tax programs such as Deferred Compensation, IRA, and a flexible spending account.