Litigation Attorney

City of New York • New York City, NY

8d

About The Position

The New York City Comptroller’s Office promotes the financial health, integrity, and effectiveness of City government. Through the Bureau of Law and Adjustment (BLA), the Comptroller negotiates and approves monetary settlements of claims and lawsuits involving New York City. BLA investigates and may settle pre-litigation claims, reviews and authorizes settlement requests for litigated cases, and administers disputes arising from City contracts. Its work includes protecting the City’s fiscal interests, resolving claims fairly and lawfully, managing City risk, holding agencies accountable, identifying fraud and trends, and coordinating with the Law Department and other City agencies.

The Litigation Attorney uses independent judgment and applies appropriate legal standards to evaluate and resolve claims against the City before litigation, and to review settlement requests for cases being handled by the Law Department or outside counsel. The role reports directly to a Senior Attorney and indirectly to the Deputy Director. The attorney also participates in settlement negotiations, attends certain high-profile or media-sensitive hearings, and supports intergovernmental risk-management initiatives.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar and continued membership in good standing for the duration of employment.
• Either one year of satisfactory United States legal experience after admission to any state bar, or six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086).
• For Assignment Level II: one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience after bar admission in areas related to the assignment.
• For Assignment Level III: two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience after bar admission in areas related to the assignment.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, negotiate, and resolve personal injury, civil rights/police, labor and employment, and other tort claims against the City and its agencies before litigation begins.
• Approve, deny, or otherwise act appropriately on Law Department requests for settlement authority.
• Prepare memoranda on pre-litigation claims and pending litigation to independently evaluate liability, risk, and damages, and request settlement authority beyond individually delegated authority.
• Participate in settlement negotiations in state and federal courts, alternative dispute resolution forums, at the Law Department in out-of-court discussions, and through direct communication with counsel.
• Attend 50-h hearings on high-profile and media-sensitive matters as necessary.
• Assist Senior Attorneys and Directors with intergovernmental risk-management initiatives involving highly confidential or media-sensitive matters.
• Perform other related assignments and special projects as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed