Attorney I

The NYC Department of Social Services' Office of Legal Affairs is the second largest municipal legal unit and provides legal guidance, litigation support, and direct representation to the Agency's program areas in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies to ensure the delivery of social services and public benefits consistent with federal, state and local laws and regulations.

The Office of the General Counsel of Legal Affairs is recruiting for one Agency Attorney I to join its Support and Lien Recovery Litigation Unit that represents the recovery programs to collect and replenish the public assistance budget to maintain social services and public benefits for the neediest of eligible New Yorkers.

The Agency Attorney I, under the direction of a supervising attorney, will gain work in the casualty lien and mixed recovery unit. The Agency Attorney I will gain extensive training and experience with litigation in State, Family Court and Administrative forums and negotiation to affirmatively enforce the NYC Department of Social Services interests in casualty lien cases and with mixed recovery cases to assert its liens, claims and child support arrears to meet its statutory recovery goals.

The Office of the General Counsel of Legal Affairs is recruiting (1) one Agency Attorney I who will:

• Represent the interests of the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services in Civil, Supreme Court, Family Court and Administrative actions to enforce the NYC Department of Social Services Liens, and on mixed recovery cases assert all liens, claims and child support arrears, including extensive litigation, motion practice and pleading drafting.

• Draft legal documents and provide legal counseling to the NYC Department of Social Services' Investigation, Revenue and Enforcement Administration's Office of Liens and Trusts and Office of Child Support Services including extensive research in complex issues effective recovery, applicable statutes, case law or other material to resolve legal questions/problems, subpoenas/requests for information, interpret the intent and legal ramifications of laws, rules/regulations related to Medicaid recovery.

• Maintain case files and update notes into Office of Legal Affairs case management system records on case status.

• Determine the advisability of presenting evidence, admissibility of types of evidence and matters of legal strategy.

• Must be able to travel to all five boroughs for court appearances.

Minimum 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.

Preferred Skills

• Admission to the NYS Bar

• Prior litigation experience and motion practice

• Strong oral and written advocacy skills

• Prior experience with negotiation and court appearances and drafting legal pleadings and motion papers for affirmative and defensive actions.

• Experience with negotiation and settlement of litigation and other claims

• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

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.