Collections Attorney

Department-of-Finance; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work eligibility

Job summary

NYC Department of Finance seeks an experienced Agency Attorney in its Collections Law Unit to support debt collection matters, perform legal research, draft documents, and advise DOF divisions on complex cases.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Collections Law, the attorney will handle bankruptcy issues, mortgage foreclosure matters, and enforcement documents, with remote-work eligibility up to two days per week.

Qualifications

• New York State Bar admission.
• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or 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.
• To be assigned to AL II, one year of experience at AL I or two years of comparable legal experience; to AL III, two years at AL I/II or three years of comparable legal experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research and draft memoranda, legal documents and analyses related to debt collection matters.
• Research and review debt for collections.
• Provide legal counsel on bankruptcy issues and coordinate with Law Department and DOF divisions.
• Prepare and review legal collection and enforcement documents, including executions and restraining notices.
• Handle mortgage foreclosure matters and surplus money claims in court.
• Advise on Public Improvement Liens, bonds and levy issues and support debt collections.
• Draft, analyze and review legislation, regulations and agency forms.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Legal research

Legal collections knowledge

Education

Admission to New York State Bar

Job description

NYC Department of Finance (DOF) is responsible for administering the tax revenue laws of the city fairly, efficiently, and transparently to instill public confidence and encourage compliance while providing exceptional customer service.

DOF’s Legal Affairs Division serves as the in-house legal department for DOF, providing professional and comprehensive legal advice and services supporting a full range of city tax and other revenue-related matters. Legal Affairs Division attorneys and staff handle various legal issues, including real property taxes and exemptions, business income and excise taxes, collections, parking violations, treasury, land registry, Conciliation Bureau conferences, FOIL, and employment law.

Legal Affairs’ Collections Law Unit supports the agency’s collections efforts, handling the collection of tax warrants, bankruptcy issues, collections related legal matters, and violations and other debt collected by the agency. The Collections Law Unit is seeking an experienced collections attorney to join its team and represent DOF in a broad range of debt collection matters.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Collections Law, the selected candidate s duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Perform legal research and draft memorandum, legal documents and other written analyses related to complicated, important or high value debt collection matters. Provide legal advice and counsel to DOF’s Collections Division and other agency-operating divisions and prepare legal responses to inquiries as needed.
• Research and review debt for collections.
• Advice on bankruptcy issues. Work collaboratively with the Law Department and DOF operating divisions to resolve bankruptcy and collections matters.
• Prepare, review and/or sign legal collection and enforcement documents, including executions and restraining notices.
• Reviewing offers using compromise applications, addressing inquiries and matters from outside collections firms.
• Handle mortgage foreclosure matters and submits surplus money claims in court.
• Provide legal counsel and support on issues concerning Public Improvement Liens, bonds and levy issues.
• Collect debt, including ECB and tax warrant debt, and provide legal services in support of debt collections efforts.
• Prepare required legal documents and advise the Sheriff’s Office on executions, restraining notices, information subpoenas and other documents as needed.
• Draft, analyze and review legislation, policies, regulations, statutes as well as agency forms and guidance. Work with staff in the Collections Division on collections projects and matters.
• Handle general legal matters and special assignments including representing the agency in court and administrative proceedings as needed.
• Research and draft legal responses to claims or actions filed against the agency as needed.
• Working with the Director and other attorneys as needed, provide legal counsel to the agency’s operational staff. Assignments may include CPLR related legal matters, collections issues, judgment and docketing, ECB and other City related debt and other matters as needed.

Additional Information

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed between the City and the Collective Bargaining Unit representing employees serving in the civil service title.

AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
• 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.
• 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

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong legal research skills, and experience handling detailed and complex matters.
• Experience with legal collections and bankruptcy is a plus.

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.