Attorney

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 122,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York City Law Department is seeking a Senior Counsel in the General Litigation Division to manage a diverse federal and state court docket. Attorneys handle pleadings, discovery, conferences, motions, and trials with opportunities to deepen litigation skills while serving public interests.

Applicants must be admitted to the New York State and federal courts with at least five years of relevant litigation experience.

Qualifications

• Five years of relevant litigation experience after graduating from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admission to the bars of New York State and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York in good standing.
• Strong organizational abilities, superb legal writing and analytical skills, and excellent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload in federal and state court litigation.
• Handle pleadings, discovery, court conferences, motions, and trials.
• Develop litigation strategies and advocate effectively on behalf of the City.

Skills

Federal court experience

Litigation experience

Legal writing

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Excellent judgment

Education

ABA-accredited law school

Job description

The New York City Law Department is seeking applicants for the position of Senior Counsel in the General Litigation Division. The General Litigation Division represents the City in federal and state court litigation in both routine matters and challenges to important programs in diverse areas including education, prison conditions, child welfare, freedom of information, public assistance benefits, campaign finance, and election law. The Division also defends numerous class actions for money damages and injunctive relief that assert statutory and constitutional violations. Recent cases involve matters such as accessibility of court houses and police stations for disabled persons; conditions of confinement at NYC jails; educational programs and services offered to special needs children; DNA collection and retention; and cash assistance and SNAP benefits.

Attorneys in the division are responsible for their own caseloads and all facets of litigation including pleadings, discovery, court conferences, arguments, motion papers, and trials.

This position provides experienced attorneys with opportunities to deepen their litigation skills in federal and state court while managing their own caseload of sophisticated matters. The role is particularly suited for attorneys seeking meaningful public service, particularly in federal and state practice.

Salary Information

The Law Department sets salaries for new attorneys based on their post law school legal experience, which typically aligns with their law school graduation year.

• For 0–5 years of legal experience: $ 87,737–$122,300
• For 5-10 years of legal experience: $122,300-137,188
• For 10-15 years of legal experience: $137,188-$159,521
• For 15-20 years of legal experience: $159,521-$180,791
• For 20+ years of legal experience: $180,791-$188,235

Candidates with highly specialized experience may qualify for salaries slightly above these ranges when a role requires such expertise or the position is considered hard to fill.

Work From Home Options

Following orientation, attorneys may elect to participate in one of two remote work programs:

• Flexible Remote Work: Allows limited, irregular work from home days.
• Citywide Pilot Program: Allows attorneys to work remotely on two set days per week, subject to Division approval and staffing needs. Participants must maintain a single designated remote work location, and in person obligations take precedence over scheduled remote days. This pilot is currently being tested across City agencies and is not yet permanent.

ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL - 30112

Minimum Qualifications

The General Litigation Division is dedicated to providing outstanding legal advocacy. Accordingly, candidates must have at least five years of relevant litigation experience after graduating from an ABA accredited law school. Applicants must also be admitted to the bars of, and be in good standing in, the courts of New York State, and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Applicants should possess federal court experience and demonstrate substantial litigation experience, exceptional organizational abilities, strong legal writing and analytical skills, strong interpersonal skills, and excellent judgment.

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.

, $122,300.00 – $188,235.00