Assistant General Counsel - Assisted Outpatient Treatment

City of New York•Long Island City, NY

About The Position

The Office of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is responsible for the management and oversight of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program in New York City. The New York State Legislature passed Kendra’s law as an amendment to the Mental Hygiene Law to allow for outpatient civil commitment of individuals with histories of serious mental illness, difficulty engaging in rehabilitation, and who present high risk to themselves or the community. The program works with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) to enable these individuals to live safely in the community, avoid repeated inpatient hospitalizations, and ensure they have access to comprehensive outpatient services. 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 (AOT) program. Position Summary: The Assistant General Counsel will function as an integral member of the OGC legal team. Under general direction from the Director of the AOT Legal team, the Assistant General Counsel will serve as an attorney for the AOT program, providing support and may be requested to:

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.

Nice To Haves

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 experience in or knowledge and interest in mental health and other public health matters is a plus.

Responsibilities

Draft petitions for court-ordered treatment for psychiatric patients and represent the Health Department at the corresponding hearings and jury trials.
Draft motions and appeals as needed.
Litigate complex and significant cases at OATH, as needed.
Conduct legal research and draft written analyses as needed, often on time-sensitive basis.
Provide legal guidance to the AOT program, as needed, and assist in monitoring the workflow.
Work with and/or collaborate with outside governmental agencies as needed including, but not limited to, the New York State Office of Mental Health, Mental Hygiene Legal Service and the Office of Court Administration.
Collaborate with hospitals located in New York City to help them facilitate patient referrals to the AOT Program and assist them in completing AOT petitions.
Travel to courts, various health department offices and hospitals/clinics within New York City.
Maintain sensitive and confidential information.
Manage and distribute information accurately and appropriately.
Monitor the workflow, ensuring compliance with deadlines, and preparing reports and summaries.
Establish positive working relationships with co-workers and programs.
Possess excellent research and writing skills.
Attend to other ad hoc projects and tasks, as needed or assigned.

Benefits

Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
a tax-deferred savings program and
a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

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