Assistant General Counsel

City of New York • New York City, NY

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The City of New York’s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is the nation’s largest administrative tribunal, holding more than 250,000 trials and hearings a year. As the City’s central, independent administrative law court, OATH adjudicates a wide range of matters filed by nearly every city agency, board and commission. OATH also houses the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution which provides mediation and restorative justice support to City government agencies and the general public, and the Administrative Judicial Institute, a resource center that provides training, continuing education, research and support services for administrative law judges and hearing officers. The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal services and guidance to executive agency staff, tribunal personnel, and the Clerk’s Office. The OGC plays a key role in supporting and strengthening the agency’s legal foundation and mission through legal analysis, research and writing, and advice. The OGC seeks a dynamic and thoughtful attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel. This person will have extensive responsibility for all legal matters affecting the agency. His or her primary responsibilities will be to: (1) Handle the agency’s employment-law matters; (2) Serve as disciplinary counsel; (3) Handle Labor Relations matters; (4) Assist with monitoring probationary and provisional employees’ work performance; and (5) Provide training on disciplinary issues. Additional counsel work includes reviewing policies and procedures, providing legal guidance to management, and working with the Law Department and various agencies on the application of laws. Exceptional writing, research, and analytical skills, and good interpersonal and communication skills are required. The ideal candidate pays attention to details, thinks strategically, and exercises sound judgment. Commitment to public service is an asset. Duties include but are not limited to: - Performing all aspects related to employment law, including to prosecute disciplinary cases from inception to conclusion under New York State Civil Service Law and the City’s collective bargaining agreements; - Conducting investigations by interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence; - Responding to employee grievances; - Representing the agency in formal and informal conferences, arbitrations, OATH tribunal hearings, and the NYC Office of Labor Relations (OLR) proceedings; - Reviewing and preparing legal documents, including statement of charges; - Providing legal advice; - Performing special projects as requested by the General Counsel; and - Maintaining a high degree of professionalism. The ideal candidate works well in a team comprised of attorneys and non-attorneys, enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, and is able to multitask.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar
• 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
• Must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment
• Exceptional writing, research, and analytical skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Commitment to public service is an asset
• Pays attention to details
• Thinks strategically
• Exercises sound judgment
• Works well in a team comprised of attorneys and non-attorneys
• Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment
• Able to multitask

Responsibilities

• Handle the agency’s employment-law matters
• Serve as disciplinary counsel
• Handle Labor Relations matters
• Assist with monitoring probationary and provisional employees’ work performance
• Provide training on disciplinary issues
• Reviewing policies and procedures
• Providing legal guidance to management
• Working with the Law Department and various agencies on the application of laws
• Performing all aspects related to employment law, including to prosecute disciplinary cases from inception to conclusion under New York State Civil Service Law and the City’s collective bargaining agreements
• Conducting investigations by interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence
• Responding to employee grievances
• Representing the agency in formal and informal conferences, arbitrations, OATH tribunal hearings, and the NYC Office of Labor Relations (OLR) proceedings
• Reviewing and preparing legal documents, including statement of charges
• Providing legal advice
• Performing special projects as requested by the General Counsel
• Maintaining a high degree of professionalism

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level