Staff Counsel

Cityofnewyork; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) invites applications for an attorney with two or more years of litigation experience to work on worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off and Fair Workweek laws. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement with up to two remote days per week and the chance to contribute to cutting-edge enforcement work in New York City.

You will lead investigations, draft pleadings and motions, review reports, negotiate settlements,

Qualifications

• Two or more years of litigation experience.
• Interest in issues affecting low-wage workers.
• Ability to develop evidence for litigation and manage complex investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex investigations to develop evidence for litigation.
• Review investigators' reports and evaluate strength of evidence for litigation.
• Litigate enforcement actions and draft pleadings, motions, and settlements.
• Edit and draft Consent Orders and negotiate settlement terms with employers.
• Perform legal research to support enforcement and policy work.
• Write public-facing materials about the laws OLPS enforces.

Job description

This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program.

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation's leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City's Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City's vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and our work, visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for the newsletter, or follow us on social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Founded in 2014, the Office of Labor Policy & Standards ("OLPS") enforces the City's worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, and Delivery Worker Laws that protect delivery workers classified as independent contractors. OLPS settles and litigates dozens of large cases a year on behalf of classes of workers who have experienced violations of pay or scheduling rights. We have recovered over $120 million for workers through enforcement and raised pay by over $1 billion via the minimum pay rate for delivery workers classified as independent contractors. We also administer the Freelance Isn't Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations, and we bring pattern and practice litigation on behalf of freelancers against repeat violators. Under all laws we enforce, OLPS obtains monetary compensation for workers for violations and brings companies into compliance. Working closely with outside stakeholders, OLPS also advocates for new laws, performs research and data analysis to make policy recommendations, and conducts outreach and education to workers, employers, and the general public. Under Mayor Mamdani, DCWP's worker protection enforcement staff is rapidly expanding from a staff of 45 to 75 in 2026, with further expansion planned in future years. More information about our office is available at nyc.gov/workers.

DCWP is seeking an attorney with two or more years of litigation experience and interest in issues affecting low-wage workers.

Key responsibilities

• Lead complex investigations to develop evidence suited to litigation, in collaboration with investigation teams of data scientists and investigators.
• Review investigators' reports and evaluate the strength of evidence for litigation.
• Litigate enforcement actions to obtain monetary relief for employees who experience workplace violations. This includes drafting pleadings and motions, managing discovery, interviewing witnesses, preparing witnesses to testify, developing damages calculations, advocating for DCWP at settlement conferences and other appearances, and trying cases.
• Edit and draft Consent Orders and negotiate settlement terms with employers to resolve enforcement matters.
• Perform legal research to support OLPS enforcement and policy work.
• Write letters, legal briefs, and legal research memos on matters related to enforcement and policy.
• Write public-facing materials about the laws OLPS enforces.

This position is an exciting opportunity to be involved with a growing office working on the next generation of labor laws. The ideal candidate possesses a strong attention to detail, excellent time management and organizational skills, enjoys the challenge of performing complex legal research, collaborating with diverse teams, working with both attorneys and non-attorneys, and tackling novel legal and policy questions creatively.

Note

The posted salary range is for an Agency Attorney Level II. Attorneys who do not meet the minimum qualifications for Assignment Level II may be considered if they meet the minimum qualifications for Agency Attorney Level I. Recent law graduates who do not have 1 year of legal experience or 6 months of service as an Agency Attorney Interne would be considered for the Assignment Level of Agency Attorney Interne. The salary ranges for these titles are as follows:

• Agency Attorney Interne: $72,510 to $83,388
• Agency Attorney, Assignment Level I: $73,476 to $84,498

AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087

Requirements

1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
2. One year of satisfactory United States