ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER-LITIGATION & PRE-COMPLAINT OPERATIONS

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking city commission dedicated to enforcing human rights laws and combating discrimination. As an Assistant Commissioner of Litigation and Pre-Complaint Operations, you will lead a team of attorneys, manage complex cases, and drive strategic initiatives to ensure justice for all citizens. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the community through legal advocacy and policy development. If you are passionate about civil rights and have a strong background in litigation, this position is a chance to contribute to meaningful change in New York City.

Benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 4 years of legal experience post-bar admission, including 18 months in a supervisory role.
• Experience in anti-discrimination law or civil rights-related areas preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the LEB, focusing on litigation and pre-complaint intervention.
• Supervise attorneys in litigation of discrimination cases and maintain a personal caseload.

Skills

Litigation experience

Team management

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Analytical abilities

Problem-solving abilities

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

Admission to the New York State Bar

Job description

The Commission 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 an Assistant Commissioner of Litigation and Pre-Complaint Operations to help manage the process by which the LEB enforces the New York City Human Rights Law, through the investigation and prosecution of complaints of violations filed by members of the public and through Commission-initiated investigations. The Assistant Commissioner will oversee the work of the Supervising Attorneys, Staff Attorneys and other staff, investigating public complaints and representing the Commission in settlements and litigation of cases at the Office of Administrative Trial and Hearings (OATH). The Assistant Commissioner will work with the Deputy Commissioner and the Associate Commissioner for Law Enforcement on ensuring timely completion of investigations of public and Commission-initiated investigations, conciliation agreements, cases at OATH and to identify and develop affirmative litigation and Commission-initiated investigations.

Responsibilities include:

1. Assisting the Deputy Commissioner and Associate Commissioner in overseeing and managing the daily operations of all aspects of the LEB with a specific focus on supporting pre-complaint intervention work and litigation.
2. Supervising LEB Supervising Attorneys and other staff managing discrimination cases at the pre-complaint stage and in the litigation stage.
3. Providing strategic leadership and guidance to the Bureau team, fostering a collaborative and high performing environment.
4. Guiding the supervision of LEB attorney teams and assisting Supervising Attorneys with decision-making and supervision of matters which are publicly filed; identifying pattern and practice violations in preparation for and through litigation, and ensure timely referral of matters to OATH and litigation of those matters.
5. Supervising LEB Supervising and staff attorneys in the litigation of discrimination cases before the OATH from discovery and trial through and including issuance of an Administrative Law Judge’s recommendation and the issuance of a Commission decision and order.
6. Maintaining a personal caseload of cases under investigation and prosecution.
7. Monitoring and analyzing trends in discrimination complaints to identify systemic issues and recommend policy changes.
8. Working with Supervising Attorneys, and staff attorneys to ensure that information provided in the public complaint process informs efforts to identify systemic discrimination and repeat violations that may warrant Commission-initiated investigations.
9. Working with the Deputy Commissioner and Associate Commissioner to ensure accurate statistics and reporting related to the agency’s compliance reporting, as well as to ensure data informs efforts to ensure compliance with the NYCHRL.
10. Collaborating with the Commission’s Community Relations Bureau to provide trainings and targeted community outreach programs and to engage in coordinated approaches to rooting out systemic discrimination.
11. Representing the Commission in high profile and complex litigation and hearings as well as at community events, speaking engagements, and other events as necessary.
12. Supporting the overall vision, values and mission of the Commission and providing leadership support for the Commission’s key strategic areas.
13. Assisting in the development and implementation of strategic enforcement initiatives and investigative procedures.
14. Other responsibilities assigned by the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner to help effectively and efficiently run LEB.

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:

1. Five to Eight years of litigation experience in anti-discrimination law, employment law, housing law, or other civil rights-related areas.
2. Proven experience in a leadership or supervisory role, with strong skills in team management and strategic planning.
3. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team to manage a large and diverse workload and meet deadlines.
4. Experience conducting discovery, reviewing documents and taking dispositions or with trial testimony.
5. Attention to detail and ability to multi-task, prioritize and schedule work effectively to achieve optimal results while demonstrating strong interpersonal skills.
6. Ability to communicate effectively across cultures, identities, and backgrounds, and to give and receive feedback.
7. Strong oral and communication skills. Must be able to effectively convey legal concepts and findings to various audience, including the public, policymakers and fellow staff.
8. Demonstrated commitment to public service and strong work ethic.
9. Excellent analytical, investigative and problem-solving abilities.
10. Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information using discretion, professional sensitivity, and sound judgment.
11. Ability to develop and implement new strategies and policies to improve the LEB’s effectiveness and responsiveness.
12. Prior experience working with and/or knowledge of advocacy and legal organizations and non-profits working to advance social justice and/or in areas of housing, employment, or public accommodations.
13. Familiarity with the NYCHRL.
14. Fluency in a language other than English, preferably one common in New York City.

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.