**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program. ** The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The General Counsel Division (GCD) at DCWP seeks an experienced attorney to serve in the Associate General Counsel (AGC) position.
Reporting to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel for Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement, the AGC will be responsible for overseeing one of the GCD’s litigation and enforcement units, which consist of a team of lawyers who research, investigate and prosecute illegal and deceptive and business practices by individual businesses and business industries. Specifically, the AGC will have several primary areas of focus:
- Oversight of one unit of GCD affirmative litigation and enforcement attorneys: this litigation team consists of attorneys who research, investigate and prosecute illegal, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by individual businesses and business industries, with a focus on issues facing renters as consumers in New York City.
The AGC will:
- manage the team’s investigative and trial work, including supervising proceedings before OATH and in State court, as necessary;
- support matters from investigation through settlement or trial, including keeping matters moving to meet deadlines;
- work with the GCD senior management team to develop creative strategies for identifying and successfully prosecuting affirmative litigation cases; and
- train legal and investigative staff on skills necessary to carry out the GCD’s litigation goals.
- Oversight over the GCD’s enforcement of specific laws, including the FARE Act, laws directed at protecting immigrants from immigrant-targeted fraud, and employment agency licensing laws and rules. Oversee enforcement actions at the City’s administrative tribunal and in NYS court, conduct industry-wide compliance initiatives, and coordinate targeted enforcement efforts. Oversee and participate as necessary in all trials. Review and assist in drafting summonses, petitions, motions, briefs, subpoenas, Consent Orders, discovery documents, correspondence, and other legal documents. Provide support to the New York City Law Department with litigation related to licensed categories.
- Lead DCWP strategy to develop investigations and impactful affirmative litigation related to issues renters are facing due to deceptive or exploitative conduct by landlords, brokers, and institutional lenders related to the rental property market. Serve as primary GCD liaison with external partners in the tenant protection space, including but not limited to sister City agencies such as HPD and Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, advocates, and state regulators. Manage and direct research into emerging issues renters face in the City and policy responses to same in close coordination with other AGCs in the GCD, and other divisions of DCWP, including Legislative Affairs and the Office of Financial Empowerment.
- Provide legal counseling to other divisions regarding legal and policy issues in portfolio, particularly issues related to the interpretation of employment agency licensing laws and rules and laws pertaining to immigration service providers; assisting with the review and drafting of legislation and rules implementing legislation; review and revise Licensing and Enforcement Division tools/documents to ensure compliance and consistency with laws and rules; utilize expertise to provide legal advice on drafting and reviewing enforcement and licensing division documents and assessing enforcement priorities; work with the Communications Division to help properly frame legal issues and answer questions; work with the External Affairs to handle elected inquiries, frame responses, and help prepare for public hearings concerning potential new areas of Agency responsibility.
- Supervise and oversee team of attorneys to ensure that work is being efficiently and accurately performed, all policies and procedures are adhered to, and professional development goals are being met by team members.
The ideal candidate has significant supervisory and managerial experience, is a self-motivated, experienced attorney with superb writing skills and experience with strategic planning and using technology and data to further legal goals.
The position requires an individual who enjoys substantial responsibility and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
Minimum Qualifications
Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.
Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.
Preferred Skills
- Significant experience in management, including supervision, administration and handling personnel issues
- Experience litigating cases at administrative agencies and in state and federal court, including experience conducting hearings and trials, drafting and filing dispositive and other motions, conducting discovery and depositions, and negotiating and drafting settlement agreements
- Demonstrated ability to multitask, set priorities and work quickly and efficiently
- Interest in or experience in government or public sector work
- Familiarity with administrative law and consumer protection issues; familiarity or experience in landlord-tenant laws or housing court practice strongly preferred.
- Experience with regulatory compliance
- Flexibility and ability to adjust to shifting regulatory and policy landscapes and demonstrated ability to utilize creative thinking when developing legal strategy
- Ability to work in and direct teams in a diverse environment comprised of attorney and non-legal staff
- Interest in working in a hands-on “roll up your sleeves” atmosphere
- Impeccable legal judgment, problem solving skills and ability to resolve issues in a diplomatic and expedient fashion
- Excellent writing and editing skills, appreciation of rigorous standards for written work and interest in growing and developing impeccable legal templates for the agency
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position