Assistant General Counsel

ABOUT OATH:

The City of New York's Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is the nation's largest administrative tribunal, holding approximately 400,000 trials and hearings a year. As the City's central, independent administrative law court, OATH adjudicates a wide range of matters filed by nearly every city agency, board and commission. OATH also houses the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution which provides mediation and restorative justice support to City government agencies and the general public, and the Administrative Judicial Institute, a resource center that provides training, continuing education, research and support services for administrative law judges and hearing officers.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The City of New York's Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is the nation's largest independent administrative tribunal, conducting approximately 400,000 trials and hearings a year. OATH is a fast-paced organization committed to providing fair and timely administrative hearings to all New Yorkers. Through its Trials and Hearings Divisions, OATH serves as a neutral forum for the adjudication of a wide variety of civil cases affecting city employees and licensees, and the health, safety, and quality of life in New York City. In the past several years, OATH has grown significantly in size, scope and areas of jurisdiction.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal services and guidance to executive agency staff, tribunal personnel, and the Clerk's Office. The OGC plays a key role in supporting and strengthening the agency's legal foundation and mission through legal analysis, research and writing, and advice.

The OGC seeks a dynamic and thoughtful litigator to serve as Assistant General Counsel. This person will have responsibility for significant legal matters affecting the agency. He or she will work collaboratively with NYC Law Department attorneys on Article 78 proceedings involving OATH, review appeals of OATH decisions and offer legal analysis of those decisions as well as state and federal court opinions. This person will help create and maintain a library of legal outlines and will review litigation positions for alignment with agency policy and due process objectives. She or he will also review policies and procedures and provide legal guidance to management. Exceptional writing, research, analytical and organizational skills are required, as well as good communication skills. The ideal candidate enjoys writing and research, thinks strategically, and savors pays attention to detail. This person must exercise sound judgment and demonstrate a commitment to public service. Commitment to public service is an asset. Considerable opportunity for professional growth and development.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing research and analysis and legal memoranda relating to the substantive and procedural aspects of administrative law

and the adjudication process, including issues involving due process and access to justice;

• Providing legal advice and policy and strategic guidance on administrative law and other legal topics to the General

Counsel, executive staff, Tribunal staff, and the Clerk's Office;

• Making appropriate legal recommendations concerning litigation and policy matters;

• Collaborating with the NYC Law Department to provide legal support to OATH;

• Monitoring and disseminating information about changes in laws to legal personnel;

• Participating in training for OATH Hearing Officers; and

• Performing Special Projects as requested by the General Counsel.

The ideal candidate works well in a team comprised of attorneys and non-attorneys, enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, and is able to multi-task.

Work Location: 66 John Street, New York, NY

Minimum Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and 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.

Preferred Skills

Candidates must demonstrate: - Excellent writing, legal research and analytical skills.

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Strong management and training skills.

• History of volunteerism, such as service in the AmeriCorps or Peace Corps, is viewed favorable.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

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.