Agency Attorney 2

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of New York’s Commission on Human Rights seeks Agency Attorneys, Level 2, to join the Law Enforcement Bureau. The role covers pre-complaint interventions, investigations, mediations, settlements, and litigation to enforce the NYC Human Rights Law.

Candidates must be admitted to the NYS Bar and meet post-admission experience requirements. The position offers opportunities to lead on complex cases and to engage with diverse communities across NYC.

Qualifications

• Must be admitted to the New York State Bar.
• One year of U.S. legal experience after bar admission (state bar).
• Six months as Agency Attorney Interne (30086) or equivalent.
• Maintain NYS Bar membership in good standing while employed.
• For AL II: one year at AL I or two years of comparable legal experience; AL III: two years at AL I/II or three years total.

Responsibilities

• Interview public claims of discrimination; conduct pre-complaint interventions and file complaints as appropriate.
• Investigate discrimination claims and pattern or practice violations.
• Negotiate settlements and monitor compliance; draft settlement agreements.
• Represent Commission in mediation and at hearings; pursue discovery and depositions.
• Litigate cases from probable cause to hearings division; present to ALJ and Commission.
• Lead or assist on large-scale investigations or complex litigation.
• Collaborate with Community Relations Bureau for trainings and systemic discrimination efforts.
• Represent Commission at community events, speaking engagements, and bar associations.
• Assist with training and professional development of staff.

Skills

Bar admission + NYS Bar

Independent & collaborative work

Strong oral & written communication

Leadership & people skills

Diverse community engagement

Job description

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.

AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087

Minimum Qualifications

• 1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
• 2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
• 3. 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-structured, 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.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

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/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

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.