EEO Attorney

City of New York•Queens, NY

About The Position

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts. The NYC DOC Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is committed to eliminating discrimination in employment; to maintaining a work environment which is free from any form of unlawful discrimination, including sexual harassment; to promoting a progressive diversity and inclusion program for achieving a representative workforce; and to providing a prompt, fair, and impartial review and adjudication of discrimination complaints. To that end, we work to prevent discrimination before it occurs through outreach, education and training. The Office of EEO is also responsible for the processing of requests for reasonable accommodations which ensures all individuals enjoy full access to equal employment opportunity at the NYC Department of Correction. The selected candidates’ primary function will be to analyze, evaluate, and conduct fact-finding investigations concerning complaints of discrimination filed by employees; perform EEO legal work and research, including fact-finding and questions of law. Additionally, the EEO Attorney will be tasked with interviewing charging parties, witnesses, and respondents to gather facts relevant to charges of discriminatory employment practices. The EEO Attorney would also collect documentation about agency policies and procedures, as well as statistical evidence pertinent to the complaint of discrimination. The EEO Attorney will also be engaged in activities including, but not limited to, writing an investigative plan and reports; outlining case questions to be asked and determining which documents to request; contacting members of service and/or EEO liaisons for additional information; gathering all relevant supporting documents; recommending penalties and resolutions; and providing advice on EEO legal matters. In addition, the EEO Attorney will be tasked with working with the Disability Rights Coordinator (DRC) as needed to determine eligibility and effective accommodations for individuals with disabilities under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADAAA, Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable city, state and federal civil rights legislation; engage in and thoroughly document cooperative dialogue with reasonable accommodation applicants, conduct legal research in preparation of determinations; verify disability documentation provided by physicians or other appropriate professionals to determine eligibility and functional limitations requiring accommodations; thoroughly document basis for determination of eligibility for disability accommodations and services; ensure timely review of applications, eligibility, determination, and notification of accommodations; draft letters memorializing cooperative dialogue and determination of requests; maintain files in a highly confidential manner; and compile and analyze data to prepare reports and other outputs. The RA Attorney will also conduct regular and comprehensive assessments of the effectiveness of support resources by collecting and analyzing data; work collaboratively to assist with other department assessment activities; participate in the development of a tracking initiative; provide input on policy and program development for the office; and perform other duties as assigned. Attorney assigned to EEO must be familiar with the Department and City’s EEO and RA policy. Attorney may be required to visit facilities for site visits or other purposes at times.

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

Excellent communications skills.
Strong analytical and writing skills.
Ability to be objective and thorough in conducting investigations.
Knowledge of Federal, State and City of New York discrimination laws.

Responsibilities

Analyze, evaluate, and conduct fact-finding investigations concerning complaints of discrimination filed by employees
Perform EEO legal work and research, including fact-finding and questions of law
Interview charging parties, witnesses, and respondents to gather facts relevant to charges of discriminatory employment practices
Collect documentation about agency policies and procedures, as well as statistical evidence pertinent to the complaint of discrimination
Write an investigative plan and reports
Outline case questions to be asked and determining which documents to request
Contacting members of service and/or EEO liaisons for additional information
Gathering all relevant supporting documents
Recommending penalties and resolutions
Providing advice on EEO legal matters
Work with the Disability Rights Coordinator (DRC) as needed to determine eligibility and effective accommodations for individuals with disabilities under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADAAA, Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable city, state and federal civil rights legislation
Engage in and thoroughly document cooperative dialogue with reasonable accommodation applicants
Conduct legal research in preparation of determinations
Verify disability documentation provided by physicians or other appropriate professionals to determine eligibility and functional limitations requiring accommodations
Thoroughly document basis for determination of eligibility for disability accommodations and services
Ensure timely review of applications, eligibility, determination, and notification of accommodations
Draft letters memorializing cooperative dialogue and determination of requests
Maintain files in a highly confidential manner
Compile and analyze data to prepare reports and other outputs
Conduct regular and comprehensive assessments of the effectiveness of support resources by collecting and analyzing data
Work collaboratively to assist with other department assessment activities
Participate in the development of a tracking initiative
Provide input on policy and program development for the office
Perform other duties as assigned
Familiar with the Department and City’s EEO and RA policy
Visit facilities for site visits or other purposes at times