Job Description

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 staff, 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 9,500 diverse professionals and knowledge experts.

The General Counsel’s Office serves as the in-house legal department for the DOC. Attorneys in this office handle diverse legal areas including New York City correction law; freedom of information law (FOIL); employment law; departmental rules, regulations and directives and perform other related duties. Under direction and with wide latitude for independent judgment and action, Agency Attorneys assist in the defense of litigation against the Department and its employees in matters arising under Section 1983 of the federal Civil Rights Law, State common law tort cases, and all other matters of civil litigation which may affect the Department of Correction. The incumbents’ duties include but are not limited to,

• Investigating and preparing responses to administrative complaints brought by employees

  involving violations of various equal employment statutes;

• Offering counsel and advice on a wide range of regulatory, commercial, and litigation affairs;

• Researching matters of criminal law in foreign jurisdictions to determine applicability of

  recent City law restricting the power of the Department to enforce detainers issued by the

  United State Agency for Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

• Educating and providing documents to counsel from the Law Department in order to defend

  lawsuits commenced against the Department;

• Advising Executive Staff of the legality of potential policy changes;

• Responding to subpoenas and FOIL requests served on the Department;

• Assisting the Department in rulemaking, regulatory compliance, and risk management;

• Assisting the Department in all aspects of the Board of Correction (BOC) rulemaking process,

  including fact-finding, legal research and analysis, consultation with the Law Department, and

  translation of Department policies and practices into draft BOC rules, or amendments thereto,

  if necessary;

• Collaborate with BOC, H+H, and other City agencies, City Hall, City Council, and external

  criminal justice stakeholders;

• Providing advice and counsel to ensure the Department meets on statutory and regulatory

  requirements, including advising the Department on, and interpreting, federal, state and local

  laws and regulations that affect or inform the Department’s work;

• Performing related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.

2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or

3. 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.

In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements:

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.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.