Senior Counsel, Policy

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 135,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

City of New York’s Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice seeks a Senior Counsel to provide legal, policy, strategic, and operational guidance on MOCJ initiatives.

Reporting to the Deputy Director for Policy & Justice Operations, the Senior Counsel works independently and with partners to analyze legislation, assess risk, and advance administration priorities while improving fairness and efficiency in NYC’s criminal justice system.

Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• Four years of recent full-time legal experience after admission, including eighteen months supervising other attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate legal, policy, and operational issues affecting MOCJ and the City, including benefits, risks and unintended consequences.
• Analyze pending criminal justice legislation for feasibility and impact.
• Lead and support the development and operationalization of initiatives aligned with the Administration’s agenda.
• Coordinate with criminal justice agencies and stakeholders to implement citywide solutions.
• Analyze case processing and crime data to inform strategies.
• Provide senior-level legal, strategic, and operational support across MOCJ portfolios.
• Develop and maintain relationships with institutional and government stakeholders.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Legal experience

Bar admission

Job description

Job Description

ABOUT THE OFFICE: The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) advises the Mayor of the City of New York on criminal justice policy. MOCJ develops and implements strategies, with partners inside and outside government, to reduce crime and incarceration and to promote fairness and legitimacy. MOCJ works with law enforcement, city agencies, non-profits, foundations, and others to implement data-driven strategies that address current crime conditions, prevent offending, and build the strong neighborhoods that ensure enduring safety.

ABOUT THE ROLE: Reporting to the Deputy Director for Policy & Justice Operations, the Senior Counsel will provide legal, policy, strategic, and operational guidance on MOCJ initiatives and programs.

The Senior Counsel must be a highly effective self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. The role requires the ability to identify challenges within the criminal justice system, develop practical solutions, anticipate legal and operational risks, and build stakeholder consensus to advance Administration priorities and improve the efficiency and fairness of New York City’s criminal justice system.

The Senior Counsel responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Evaluate legal, policy, and operational issues affecting MOCJ, the City, and the public, including potential benefits, risks, and unintended consequence.
• Analyze pending criminal justice legislation, including its feasibility, impact on City agencies and the public, potential unintended consequences, and opportunities for misuse.
• Lead and support the development and operationalization of criminal justice initiatives and programs aligned with the Administration’s agenda.
• Support the Deputy Director for Policy & Justice Operations and First Deputy Director in coordinating with criminal justice agencies and stakeholders, including District Attorneys, indigent defense providers, the Department of Correction, the Department of Probation, and other partners necessary to implement citywide solutions.
• Analyze criminal case-processing and crime data, including arrests, detention, and pending criminal court cases, to inform strategies that improve case processing and public safety.
• Provide senior-level legal, strategic, and operational support across MOCJ portfolios, particularly on complex, time-sensitive, or politically sensitive matters.
• Research, develop, manage, and execute policy projects independently and collaboratively.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with institutional and government stakeholders.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned based on team and agency needs.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

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.

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.