Staff Counsel

City of New York•New York City, NY

6d•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 is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Staff Counsel in the General Counsel Division, to enforce laws that protect NYC consumers and promote the Mayor’s affordability agenda. Staff Counsel will be responsible for initiating, investigating, and litigating cases at the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and New York state court against individuals and businesses that violate New York City’s licensing and consumer protection laws. Reporting to the Associate General Counsel, Staff Counsel responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: - Investigate and prosecute businesses engaged in illegal conduct; - Identify unlawful conduct for potential investigation and litigation and develop investigation plan; - Oversee regulatory compliance projects of businesses; - Develop large scale regulatory enforcement plans; - Perform legal research and draft memorandum on legal issues facing the agency; - Draft general correspondence and legal documents to respondents, consumers and others; - Conduct depositions and try cases on behalf of the agency at New York City’s administrative tribunal and state court; - Draft and negotiate settlement agreements of enforcement proceedings initiated by attorneys and the agency’s field inspectors; and - Participate in agency outreach and trainings for business and public education. The ideal candidate will be responsible for these functions, as well as for special projects and assignments related to consumer or licensee issues or to DCWP’s operations. In addition, as part of these functions, the Staff Counsel is responsible for careful case project management and operational tasks necessary to support and effectuate this work.

Requirements

Admission to the New York State Bar
One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar
Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086)
Must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Investigate and prosecute businesses engaged in illegal conduct
Identify unlawful conduct for potential investigation and litigation and develop investigation plan
Oversee regulatory compliance projects of businesses
Develop large scale regulatory enforcement plans
Perform legal research and draft memorandum on legal issues facing the agency
Draft general correspondence and legal documents to respondents, consumers and others
Conduct depositions and try cases on behalf of the agency at New York City’s administrative tribunal and state court
Draft and negotiate settlement agreements of enforcement proceedings initiated by attorneys and the agency’s field inspectors
Participate in agency outreach and trainings for business and public education
Responsible for careful case project management and operational tasks necessary to support and effectuate this work