Associate General Counsel

*The salary range for this position is $155,000 - $160,158*

**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program. **

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to educate consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The General Counsel Division (GCD) at DCWP seeks an experienced litigator to serve in the Associate General Counsel (AGC) position. Reporting to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, the AGC will be responsible for supervising the GCD’s Regulatory, Affirmative and Licensing Litigation Unit, consisting of a team of lawyers who strategize, research, investigate and prosecute illegal and deceptive business practices by individual businesses and industries. Specifically, this AGC will have several primary areas of focus:

• Oversight of the GCD’s affirmative and impact litigation team: the GCD’s affirmative and impact litigation team consists of attorneys who research, investigate and prosecute illegal, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by individual businesses and business industries, with a focus on schemes and scams directed at vulnerable populations, i.e., immigrant and lower income communities. The AGC will be responsible for
• Managing the team’s investigative and trial work, including acting as lead counsel or second chairing proceedings before OATH and in State court, as necessary;
• Working with GCD senior management team to develop creative strategies for identifying and successfully prosecuting affirmative and impact litigation cases;
• Becoming a subject matter expert in the Consumer Protection Law (CPL) and the various industries the agency is required to regulate under the CPL, including funeral homes and immigration service providers, for effective identification of new investigative targets; and
• Training legal and investigative staff on skills necessary to carry out GCD’s litigation goals.
• Oversight over the GCD’s enforcement of laws and regulations related to specific license categories, including home improvement contractors, hotels, third-party food delivery services, and electronic stores. Oversee and serve as lead counsel, as necessary, in enforcement actions at the City’s administrative tribunal and in NYS court, conduct industry-wide compliance initiatives, and coordinate targeted enforcement efforts. Oversee and participate as necessary in all trials. Review and assist in drafting summonses, petitions, motions, briefs, subpoenas, Consent Orders, discovery documents, correspondence, and other legal documents. Provide support to Law Department with litigation related to licensed categories.
• Oversight over the GCD’s enforcement of laws and regulations related to New York City’s Cashless Ban, prohibition on mandatory tenant-paid broker fees, and price gouging.
• Provide legal counseling to other divisions as the subject matter expert regarding licensed categories, particularly issues related to the interpretation of licensing laws and rules; assisting with the review and drafting of legislation; review and revise Licensing and Enforcement Division tools/documents to ensure compliance and consistency with laws and rules; utilize expertise to provide legal advice on drafting and reviewing enforcement and licensing division documents and assessing enforcement priorities; work with the Communications Division to help properly frame legal issues and answer questions; work with the External Affairs to handle elected inquiries, frame responses, and help prepare for public hearings concerning potential new areas of Agency responsibility.
• Supervise and oversee staff counsel to ensure that work is being efficiently and accurately performed, team members are supported and meeting their goals, and all policies and procedures are adhered to.
  
  

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated, experienced attorney who has managed diverse teams of professionals and who has superb writing skills and experience with strategic planning and using technology and data to further legal goals. The position requires an individual who enjoys substantial responsibility, demonstrates good judgment, and thrives in a fast-paced environment.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

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

Preferred Skills - Significant experience, at least two years or more of managing a team, supervision of multiple people, administration and/or personnel issues - Substantial experience leading investigations and litigating cases at administrative agencies and in state and/or federal court, including experience conducting hearings and trials, drafting and filing dispositive and other motions, conducting discovery and depositions, and negotiating and drafting settlement agreements. - Experience in developing and implementing strategic priorities - Demonstrated ability to multitask, set priorities and work quickly and efficiently - Interest in or experience in government or public sector work - Familiarity with administrative law issues and consumer protection issues - Experience with regulatory compliance - Excellent communication skills and ability to work in and direct teams in a diverse environment comprised of attorney and non-legal staff - Interest in working in a hands-on “roll up your sleeves” atmosphere - Impeccable legal judgment, problem solving skills and ability to resolve issues in a diplomatic and expedient fashion - Excellent writing and editing skills, appreciation of rigorous standards for written work and interest in growing and developing legal templates for the agency

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.