Assistant Counsel

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

City of New York seeks an Executive Agency Counsel to provide legal guidance to the Mayor’s Office and City Hall on policy, governance, and compliance. The role collaborates with senior policymakers and oversees legal work across multiple agencies to support the City’s initiatives.

The ideal candidate is admitted to the New York State Bar with several years of relevant experience, capable of drafting agreements, analyzing ethics issues, and ensuring transparent operations.

Qualifications

• Must be admitted to the New York State Bar.
• 1+ years of relevant legal experience in civil rights, government service, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Research local, state, and federal laws and decisions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and licenses on behalf of the Mayor’s Office.
• Provide policy guidance and legal analysis to City Hall staff.
• Ensure compliance with FOIL and transparency initiatives.
• Analyze conflicts, ethics, and privacy issues for the Mayor’s Office.
• Advise agencies on legal matters including employment and governance.
• Review and make judgments on sensitive material.
• Serve as a policy advisor to agencies under the Chief Counsel.

Skills

Analytical ability

Strong communication skills

Team player

Public service mindset

Education

New York State Bar admission

Job description

The New York City Mayor’s Office is responsible for overseeing city services throughout the five boroughs, coordinating public agencies and departments, and managing public property. The administration is leading the fight in making the city more affordable, reducing inequality, improving public safety, ensuring delivery of efficient and effective services, and working to make New York City’s economy stronger. We value leadership, transparency, fairness, and efficiency as we actively seek diverse talents from various sectors to join our team.

The New York City Mayor’s Office is responsible for overseeing city services throughout the five boroughs, coordinating public agencies and departments, and managing public property. The administration is leading the fight in making the city more affordable, reducing inequality, improving public safety, ensuring delivery of efficient and effective services, and working to make New York City’s economy stronger. We value leadership, transparency, fairness, and efficiency as we actively seek diverse talents from various sectors to join our team.

The Team You’ll Work With

The Office of the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall provides legal and strategic guidance to the Mayor and senior policymakers in City Hall on a broad range of matters, including policy, planning, litigation, legislation, compliance, ethics, and transparency. Alongside several other initiatives and functions, the Chief Counsel to the Mayor also supervises and coordinates the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (including the Environmental Control Board), the Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance, and the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, in addition to liaising with and reviewing the activities of the Conflicts of Interest Board.

The Problems You’ll Solve

The Office of the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall is seeking a dynamic, public service-minded attorney to work closely with senior policymakers. The Assistant Counsel will report to the Chief of Staff and the Chief Counsel.

Key Tasks Will Include

• Researching local, state, and federal laws, court decisions, legal authorities, and other legal documents.
• Providing policy guidance and legal analysis to City Hall staff to advance mayoral initiatives.
• Working with senior administration officials on various transparency projects, including compliance with the Freedom of Information Law.
• Analyzing conflicts, ethics, and privacy questions for the Mayor’s Office, including outside activities and gift requests.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, releases, licenses, and other agreements on behalf of the Mayor’s Office.
• Providing legal analysis to the Mayor’s Office staff in employment, EEO, and conflict matters.
• Acting as a City Hall policy advisor to the agencies reporting to the Chief Counsel.
• Reviewing and making legal judgments about sensitive material.

About You

• You have excellent analytical ability and practical judgment.
• You can independently manage a large portfolio of work while balancing many simultaneous priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• You have strong and concise communication skills.
• You have a commitment to public service.
• You can demonstrate the ability to be a team player in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• You have a dedication to client service and a willingness to be responsive.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• You are an attorney admitted to the New York State Bar.
• 1+ years of relevant legal experience, including, but not limited to, civil rights, criminal defense, government service, private practice, and/or prosecutorial experience.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

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.

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 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 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.

$100,000.00 – $135,000.00