Deputy General Counsel

City of New York•New York City, NY

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

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, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. 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 its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. DCWP seeks an experienced and results-driven Deputy General Counsel for Counseling and Operations who will work closely with the General Counsel and the Commissioner, and in tandem with the Deputy General Counsel for Litigation and Administrative Enforcement, to ensure the agency is at the forefront of protecting consumers from false and misleading advertising, and deceptive and unconscionable business practices. The Deputy General Counsel will help the counseling and non-litigation operations teams within a 100-person-plus Division, consisting of multiple units of attorneys, doing counseling, rulemaking, legislative, contract, and Agency final decision work, and non-attorney units who intake and mediate consumer complaints, settle summonses issued by DCWP’s Enforcement Division, respond to requests made under the Freedom of Information Law, and stand-up operations in the Division.

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.

Nice To Haves

Superb writing and management skills
Self-motivated
Enjoys substantial responsibility
Thrives in a fast-paced, sometimes high-pressured environment

Responsibilities

Providing sound legal advice to DCWP’s Commissioner and Executive team, and other Divisions, including DCWP’s Enforcement, Licensing, External Affairs, IT and Administrative Divisions, and the Office of Labor Policy & Standards and the Office of Financial Empowerment.
Representing DCWP at meetings with other agencies and collaborating with the NYC Office of the Corporation Counsel.
Reviewing and revising the work product of attorneys within the General Counsel Division, including policies and protocols, contracts, documents related to sealings, enforcement and plain language checklists, and agency final decisions for all recommended decisions issued by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
Reviewing and revising public-facing documents for the Licensing Division.
Receiving, reviewing, and responding to subpoenas issued to the agency or personnel in their official capacities.
Monitoring and working with data and reporting teams to ensure timely and accurate reporting available for mayor management report and press inquiries.
Drafting and reviewing laws and rules, and commenting on pending legislation and City Council hearing testimony.
Ensuring a thorough but timely process for the implementation of new laws and rules affecting the Agency.
Managing the work of the Agency Privacy Officer.
Developing strategies for improving Division operations.