General Counsel

City of New York • New York City, NY

23h

About The Position

The New York City Department of Probation (DOP) is a world leader in working creatively and effectively engaging with people under court-mandated community supervision. Through innovative partnerships with people and organizations throughout New York City, DOP provides opportunities for those on probation to access services and opportunities that positively impact their life trajectory. Following the best current data on “what works,” staff at DOP engage in meaningful relationships with those on probation to enhance community safety and decrease recidivism. Under executive direction of the Commissioner and with the widest latitude for independent judgment, action and decision-making, the General Counsel serves as the Senior Attorney of the Department and is a member of the Commissioner’s Cabinet. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

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.
• Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary advisor to the Commissioner on all legal matters; ensures that the Department is always operating within the law keeping abreast of all agency actions including those that may only be in the preliminary stages to ensure limited risk exposure.
• Provides direction and administrative review to Deputy General Counsels, Associate General Counsels, Assistant General Counsels, and attorneys responsible primarily for handling probation violation cases, with special focus on balancing the needs and best interests of probationers with the protection of the community.
• Provides direction to those who provide counsel to Probation Officers in Family and Adult Court conferences.
• Oversees the Office of The Advocate, which conducts investigations into allegations of employee misconduct (C.S. law section 75) and medical fitness (C.S. law, section 72).
• Analyzes the impact of proposed regulations and legislation on both the Department and the criminal justice system; drafts comments that represent the concerns of the Department and drafts probation-related legislation.
• Directs all General Counsel levels in the formulation and administration of city policies and programs relating to adult and juvenile crime and the managing of cases for violation hearings, the gathering of evidence, the review of court records, the interview of witnesses; also directs them in the processing of FOIA requests, in response to Violation of Probation appeals and in the writing of all Memoranda of Understanding.
• Serves as liaison to the Law Department regarding the negotiations and management of all contracts to ensure agency compliance to all applicable rules, directives, and oversight regulations. This includes, but is not limited to stipulation agreements, labor disputes, discrimination complaints and procurement contracts.
• Judges the merits of claims filed against or on behalf of the Department, working with the appropriate executives to define a strategic approach and approve settlements of disputes where warranted.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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