Legal Fellow

Public Health Solutions, Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Generous paid time off and holidays

Medical, dental and vision

Job summary

Public Health Solutions, Inc. seeks two Assistant General Counsel attorneys for the NYC public health program. Under NYC Health Department supervision, you will advise on legal matters, regulatory changes, and policy development related to public health and health code enforcement.

The role emphasizes research, analysis, and collaboration across agencies to support data-driven policies. This grant-funded position ends November 2027 and requires tri-state area residency.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Admission to New York State Bar.
• Experience in litigation or transactional law preferred.
• Proactive, team-oriented, able to work in a dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and draft analyses to support public health policy implementations.
• Identify and evaluate legal data sources and translate findings into policy recommendations.
• Monitor federal/state/local legislation; draft amendments to health codes and regulations.

Skills

Legal research

Policy analysis

Legislation tracking

Legal communication

Education

US law school JD

Tools

Westlaw

CLEAR

LexisNexis

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Legal Fellow

NYCDOHMH Strength US PHI, WF, Data Full-Time Professional DOH - LIC, Long Island City, NY, US

Salary Range: $72,510.00 To $72,510.00 Annually

Company Overview: With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team.

With grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NYC Health Department is undertaking a new initiative that will meet critical infrastructure needs and make possible strategic investments that will have lasting effects on public health. Investments and improvements through this initiative will help modernize DOHMH's foundational capabilities and data infrastructure, enabling it to partner in complex health and health care environments and, in turn, support better public health outcomes, including COVID-19. This initiative supports larger efforts to rebalance investments in public health and more equitably serve communities and populations.

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will be supervised by the NYC Health Department. This is a grant-funded position ending in November 2027.

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and assistance to the entire agency. Specifically, OGC works to ensure that the innovative programs and initiatives of DOHMH are supported by a dedicated legal team. The OGC team is comprised of attorneys who work in a variety of areas including legal affairs (legal and policy analysis; health code enforcement; records access), contracts, privacy, and employment law. OGC also houses the Institutional Review Board and attorneys working in the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program.

Position Summary:

DOHMH has an opening for two attorney positions to serve as Assistant General Counsel. This position is designed specifically for new law school graduates. The Assistant General Counsel will be a key member of the legal team to provide counsel and support on legal matters. Under the direct supervision of the First Deputy General Counsel or Unit Directors, the identified candidate will serve as an Assistant General Counsel within Legal Affairs and utilizing their knowledge of the legislative process will be required to provide support on an array of public health legal issues including the following:

• Policy Research and Analysis: Conduct legal research and utilize evidence‑based data to draft written analyses as needed in support of the design and implementation of effective policies and programs, often on a time-sensitive basis. Ensure ethical and legal compliance in data collection, maintenance, and dissemination.
• Legal Evaluation and Guidance: Identify and evaluate legal data sources and laws relevant to public health and translate findings into policy recommendations, reports, and strategic planning guidance in response to inquiries received on law and public health and/or administrative policies. Provide legislative evidence on how the legal framework and laws shape health outcomes, health risks, disparities, and interventions.
• Legislative Tracking: Monitor federal, state, or local legislation and regulations impacting public health and the workforce. Draft amendments to the NYC Health Code and Commissioner of Health regulations to advance public health priorities. Research the legal feasibility of requested Health Code changes or Commissioner’s rules.
• the Commissioner to support regulatory proposals, as well as varied types of agreements, contracts, and/or memoranda of understanding.
• Legal Consultation: Provide legal analysis and specialized legal advice to address concerns including but not limited to enforcement of NYC Health Code, Freedom of Information Law requests, privacy issues, and environmental health. Translate complex technical or legal information into clear summaries.
• Agency Adjudications: When required, attend court hearings or appear at the Mayor's Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to prosecute show cause matters on behalf of DOH.
• Regulatory Compliance: Research and interpret statutes, regulations, and agency guidance to ensure the accurate maintenance of sensitive and confidential information. Manage and distribute information appropriately while engaging in ethical conduct at all times.
• Collaborate with transdisciplinary teams: Demonstrate the ability to be an effective team player by establishing positive working relationships with co-workers, peers, and other policymakers, public health practitioners and programs across the agency.
• Additional Duties as Assigned: Perform additional duties as needed which can include administrative, legal, or project‑specific responsibilities as directed by the First Deputy General Counsel or based on OGC's operational and/or programmatic needs.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• 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.
• Previous experience working in fields related to litigation or transactional law is preferred.
• The ideal candidate for this position must be a pro‑active and self‑motivated individual with the ability to work in teams and in a highly dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders and timelines.

Additional Desired Qualities:

Preferred Skills: laws and policy and legal systems influence the cause, distribution, and prevention of disease and injury.

• Strong written and oral advocacy skills with attention to detail
• Knowledge of or interest in administrative or regulatory law
• Ability to negotiate settlements with opposing counsel
• Strong interpersonal, creative problem‑solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively as part of a team
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Excellent judgment and decision‑making skills
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage cases and projects in a timely manner
• Willingness to learn on the job, exhibit a high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities simultaneously
• Highly detail‑oriented with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Ability to use online legal research platforms such as Westlaw, CLEAR, and Lexis Nexis.
• Current working knowledge of Health Department procedures, policies and practices is a plus.
• Current knowledge or interest in public health matters is a plus.
• Hybrid Work Schedule.
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefits.
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Disability Coverage.
• 403(b) + employer matching and discretionary company contributions.
• College Savings Plan.
• Ongoing trainings and continuous opportunities for professional growth and development.

Additional Information:

• This is a temporary grant-funded position ending in November 2027.
• This individual must reside in the tri‑state area (NY, NJ, CT) by their confirmed start date.
• Preference may be given to individuals residing in New York City (5 boroughs) or surrounding New York State counties.
• This individual will be expected to work non‑business hours during emergencies.

At PHS, we place immense value on diversity within our teams, understanding that varied backgrounds and experiences significantly enhance our community and propel us toward our goals. If you find you don’t have experience in all the areas listed above, we still encourage you to apply and share your background and experiences in your application. We are eager to discover how your unique perspective can bring positive transformations to our team and help advance our mission of creating healthier, more equitable communities.

We look forward to learning more about you!

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and veterans.