Attorney Intern: Public Interest Litigation & Fair Hearings

Justia; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of New York's Department of Social Services seeks an Agency Attorney Intern in the IPV/DAR Unit within the Fair Hearing Administration. You will perform basic legal work and research, draft internal memoranda, and assist with hearings and court proceedings.

Under supervision, you draft ADH requests, prepare evidentiary packets, review laws, and help develop litigation strategies, maintaining case files in the case management system.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited United States law school as defined in the Rules of the New York Court of Appeals (Sections 520.3 or 520.5) or admission to the New York State Bar.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal representation of the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services in Administrative Disqualification Hearings before State administrative bodies as well as proceedings in city or state court relating to Intentional Program Violation litigation including but not limited to Article 78 proceedings.
• Prepare any related court documents, administrative proceeding documents or forms, including but not limited to: ADH requests, evidentiary packets, motions, answers, responses to interrogatories, and legal memoranda based on legal, policy and evidentiary research the Agency Attorney Interne conducts.
• Review policies, laws, regulations, and legislation for the purpose of advising executive, operational and other legal staff on questions of law, fact and administrative policy/procedures in connection with special projects and high-priority initiatives and with fair hearing avoidance matters.
• Review the case record and investigation records, interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence, determining whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain an IPV finding or rises up to the threshold of a DA referral for prosecution.
• Prepare a formal request for an ADH and providing OTDA’s Office of Administrative Hearings a supporting evidentiary packet electronically for incidents that meet the IPV evidentiary standard.
• Prepare and present cases to an outside prosecutorial agency where the total value of crime is less than $15k or the anticipated top charge is a class C felony or lower.
• Collect and review of evidence submitted by the client or their counsel, conduct same day conferences to settle the IPV as appropriate or requested.
• Ensure service of the evidentiary packet and notice of hearing on the client/client’s representative is completed appropriately and within expected time standards. Ensure adequate proof of service is presented or available.
• Provide legal counsel to program area(s) and negotiate settlements and stipulations in fraud matters.
• Liaise with district attorney staff and gathering responsive documents to subpoenas of agency documentation in relation to fraud or IPVs.
• May assist in developing appropriate litigation strategy by determining the advisability of presenting witnesses, the admissibility of types of evidence, and assist in preparing witnesses for testimony and cross examination, and other matters of legal strategy.
• Maintain case files and update notes into Fair Hearing’s case management system and records case status.

Education

Graduation from an accredited United States law school or NY Bar admission

Job description

City of New York's Department of Social Services seeks an Agency Attorney Intern in the IPV/DAR Unit within the Fair Hearing Administration. You will perform basic legal work and research, draft internal memoranda, and assist with hearings and court proceedings.

Under supervision, you draft ADH requests, prepare evidentiary packets, review laws, and help develop litigation strategies, maintaining case files in the case management system.