Staff Counsel

City of New York • New York City, NY

12d

About The Position

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is seeking an attorney for its Office of Labor Policy & Standards (OLPS), which enforces New York City worker-protection laws, including laws covering protected time off, fair workweek scheduling, delivery workers, and freelance workers. OLPS investigates and litigates cases to obtain compensation for workers and bring employers into compliance, and also conducts policy, research, outreach, and education work. The office is expanding its enforcement staff.

The Staff Counsel will lead complex investigations in collaboration with data scientists and investigators, assess evidence for litigation, and litigate enforcement actions seeking monetary relief for employees. Litigation work includes drafting pleadings and motions, managing discovery, interviewing and preparing witnesses, calculating damages, advocating at settlement conferences and other appearances, and trying cases. The attorney will also draft and edit consent orders, negotiate settlements with employers, conduct legal research, prepare legal briefs and memoranda, and write public-facing materials about the laws OLPS enforces.

The position is suited to an attorney interested in issues affecting low-wage workers. The ideal candidate has strong attention to detail, time-management and organizational skills, enjoys complex legal research, collaborates effectively with diverse teams of attorneys and non-attorneys, and approaches novel legal and policy questions creatively. The position may be eligible for remote work up to two days per week under the Flexible Work Pilot Program. The posted salary range is for Agency Attorney Level II; candidates may be considered at Level I or as an Agency Attorney Interne depending on qualifications. Listed ranges are $72,510–$83,388 for Agency Attorney Interne and $73,476–$84,498 for Agency Attorney, Assignment Level I.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar and continued good standing in the bar for the duration of employment.
• At least one year of satisfactory U.S. legal experience after admission to any state bar, or six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne.
• 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.
• The posting seeks an attorney with two or more years of litigation experience and an interest in issues affecting low-wage workers.

Nice To Haves

• Strong attention to detail and excellent time-management and organizational skills.
• Enjoys complex legal research and working creatively on novel legal and policy questions.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse teams and work with attorneys and non-attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex investigations and develop evidence suited to litigation in collaboration with data scientists and investigators.
• Review investigators’ reports and evaluate the strength of evidence for litigation.
• Litigate enforcement actions to obtain monetary relief for employees affected by workplace violations, including drafting pleadings and motions, managing discovery, interviewing and preparing witnesses, developing damages calculations, advocating at settlement conferences and other appearances, and trying cases.
• Edit and draft consent orders and negotiate settlement terms with employers to resolve enforcement matters.
• Conduct legal research to support OLPS enforcement and policy work.
• Write letters, legal briefs, and legal research memoranda on enforcement and policy matters.
• Write public-facing materials about the laws enforced by OLPS.

What This Job Offers

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