Agency Attorney: Commission Initiated

City of New York • New York City, NY

3d

About The Position

The New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) works every day to implement the city’s Human Rights Law through enforcement, education, and outreach. The Commission seeks to address historic and contemporary inequities to cultivate a city where everyone can live, work, and thrive free from discrimination. Through training, education, and policy initiatives, the Commission aims to root out discrimination. The Commission proactively identifies patterns of discrimination through testing employers, housing providers, and providers of public accommodation. The Commission also uses investigations, litigation, and other enforcement tools to address allegations of discrimination. In addition to investigating claims of discrimination brought to the agency by members of the public, the Commission also has the ability and obligation to affirmatively initiate its own investigations and complaints. The Commission is seeking Agency Attorneys, Level Two to join our Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB). Agency Attorneys, Level Two, work within the LEB to enforce the New York City Human Rights Law through pre-complaint interventions, investigations, mediations, settlements, and litigation. These Agency Attorneys, Level Two will specifically focus on building out LEB’s agency initiated, affirmative investigations and litigation along with the dedicated Supervising Attorney and Agency Attorney, Level Three. These positions will have a case docket of cases in housing, employment, healthcare, and public accommodations.

Requirements

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Interview members of the public alleging claims of discrimination; engaging in effective pre-complaint interventions, thorough investigations, and file complaints where appropriate.
• Investigate claims of discrimination and identify patterns or practices violations that may warrant Commission-initiated actions.
• Negotiate resolutions of claims and drafts settlement agreements. Monitor compliance with settlement agreements.
• Litigate cases from a threshold of determination of probable cause through and including referral to the hearings division.
• Represent the Commission before an Administrative Law Judge at conferences, and engage in discovery, including taking and defending depositions.
• Litigate cases at trial through and including issuance of an Administrative Law Judge’s recommendation and the issuance of a Commission decision and order.
• Provide training and collaborate with the Commission’s Community Relations Bureau to engage in coordinated approaches to rooting out systemic discrimination.
• Represent the Commission at community events, speaking engagements, and at bar associations.
• Perform all duties as needed to advance the work of the Law Enforcement Bureau.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees