Assistant Counsel

DEPT OF PARKS & RECREATION; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Parks seeks an Agency Attorney to join the Office of the General Counsel in Manhattan, within Arsenal, to handle labor, contracts, land use, and litigation matters for the agency.

Under supervision, the attorney will draft and negotiate agreements, respond to FOIL requests, assist in litigation, and advise on rules and regulations related to park properties and agency operations. NYS Bar admission required; civil service appointment process applies.

Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar is required and candidates must meet further levels of experience.
• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience after bar admission, or six months as Agency Attorney Interne (30086).
• Incumbents must remain members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate, draft and review agreements for the Agency, including concessions and park operations.
• Respond to FOIL requests and manage information access.
• Support litigation matters with the Law Department, including discovery and trial prep.
• Research and advise on laws, rules and regs related to agency property and employment.
• Assist in rulemaking and drafting new regulations for the Agency.
• Prepare memoranda and correspondence for the General Counsel’s Office.

Skills

Bar admission NYS

Public service interest

Contract drafting

Litigation experience

MS Word/Excel

Data management

Communication skills

Project management

Education

New York State Bar admission

Job description

Located in Central Park, the Office of the General Counsel is an exciting opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in a variety of practice areas. Attorneys at NYC Parks handle issues involving labor and employment, art and entertainment, first amendment, environmental, land use/real estate, contract negotiation and drafting, rule‑making and litigation in city, state and federal forums.

Major Responsibilities

• Under supervision, with some latitude for independent judgment and unreviewed action and decision, assist in negotiating, drafting and reviewing agreements on behalf of the Agency, including agreements for operation of the Agency’s concessions and the maintenance & operation of park properties and facilities.
• Respond to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
• Work with the New York City Law Department concerning ongoing litigation matters, including discovery, witness and trial preparation, and employee requests for legal representation.
• Research and advise Agency staff on a variety of legal issues related to the use of Agency property, employment law, land use and relations with nonprofit partners.
• Assist in the review and interpretation of existing laws, rules and regulations and in the preparation of new rules and regulations for the Agency.
• Perform legal research and draft memoranda and correspondence for the General Counsel’s Office.

Work Location: Arsenal, Manhattan

Fees: Hired candidates will be subject to a processing fee between $40.00 to $101.00 based on the salary range of title. Hired candidates who are not currently employed by the City will be subject to a $104.50 background check fee.

nyc.gov/parks

MOVEMENT IN THE FACE OF CIVIL SERVICE LISTS IS PROHIBITED UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW.

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

This position is exempt from NYC residency requirements.

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.

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

1. Experience or demonstrated interest in public service.
2. Experience in drafting and negotiating contracts.
3. Litigation experience.
4. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and data management programs.
5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
6. Ability to organize, plan, coordinate and implement large and ongoing projects.

AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087