Associate General Counsel

• Salary: $94,050.00 / $101.424.00* - $160,858.00 *Minimum with two years of continuous city service
• Work location: 42 Broadway, New York, NY *Job location is on site
• Division/Work Unit: General Counsel
• Hours/Shift: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week pursuant to the Flexible 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 be educated 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 attorney to serve in the Associate General Counsel (AGC) position. Reporting to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel for Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement, the AGC will be responsible for overseeing the GCD’s Affirmative and Licensing Litigation Unit, which consist of a team of lawyers who research, investigate and prosecute illegal and deceptive and business practices by individual businesses and business industries. Specifically, the AGC will have several primary areas of focus:

1. Oversight of one unit of GCD affirmative litigation and enforcement attorneys: this 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 employed by second hand automobile dealers (SHADs), also known as used car dealerships, as well as on emerging financial products across industries. The AGC will:

• manage the team’s investigative and trial work, including supervising proceedings before OATH and in State court, as necessary;
• support matters from investigation through settlement or trial, including keeping matters moving to meet deadlines;
• work with the GCD senior management team to develop creative strategies for identifying and successfully prosecuting affirmative litigation cases; and
• train legal and investigative staff on skills necessary to carry out the GCD’s litigation goals.

2. Oversight over the GCD’s enforcement of laws related to certain license categories, including SHADs 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 the New York City Law Department with litigation related to licensed categories.

3. Lead DCWP strategy to tackle new and emerging financial products that impact consumers, including “Buy Now Pay Later” products and Earned Wage Access products. Manage and direct research into deceptive conduct in these fintech products, in close coordination with other AGCs in the GCD, and divisions of DCWP, including Legislative Affairs and the Office of Financial Empowerment. Develop legal and litigation strategies to enforce the Consumer Protection Law against these products.

4. Provide legal counseling to other divisions regarding licensed categories, particularly issues related to the interpretation of licensing laws and rules; assisting with the review and drafting of legislation and rules implementing 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.

5. Supervise and oversee team of attorneys to ensure that work is being efficiently and accurately performed, all policies and procedures are adhered to, and professional development goals are being met by team members.

The ideal candidate has significant supervisory and managerial experience, is a self-motivated, experienced attorney with 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 and thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

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

• Significant experience in management, including supervision, administration and handling personnel issues
• Experience litigating cases at administrative agencies and in state and 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
• 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 and consumer protection issues
• Experience with regulatory compliance
• Curiosity into regulatory and enforcement possibilities in areas of emerging non-bank fin tech
• Flexibility and ability to adjust to shifting regulatory and policy landscapes and demonstrated ability to utilize creative thinking when developing legal strategy
• 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 impeccable legal templates for the agency

To Apply

For Non-City/External Candidates: Visit the External Applicant NYC Careers site and type “Consumer and Worker Protection” on the search line. Then locate the Job ID number.

For Current City Employees: Visit Employee Self Service (ESS) to view and click on Recruiting Activities, Careers, and search by Job ID number.

A RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED.

PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS POSITION.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

NO PHONE CALLS, FAXES, E-MAILS, OR PERSONAL INQUIRIES PERMITTED.

NOTE: ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED.

*Appointments are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.

*55-a Candidates: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and culturally responsive workforce. We strongly encourage 55-A candidates to apply to our positions in order to be given the opportunity.

**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.

***LOAN FORGIVENESS: The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to all qualifying public service employees. Working with DCWP qualifies you as a public service employee and you may be able to take advantage of this program while working full-time and meeting the program’s other requirements. Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

*Drug Screening: A drug screening may be required prior to being appointed.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations that enable people with disabilities to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by others. If you are contacted to attend an interview for one of our open vacancies and would like to request an accommodation for that date, please send an email to ReasonableAccommodationRequests@dcwp.nyc.gov.

If interested in being sent our job postings on a monthly basis, please email your resume at dcajobs@dcwp.nyc.gov. Make sure to include your personal contact information and the civil service title you are currently serving and civil service exams you have taken.

Additional Information

In addition, the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) offers competitive salaries and the following benefits:

Paid Time Off and Holidays

• Paid time off for vacation and personal leave
• Paid time off for sick leave
• A generous holiday package of up to 13 days

Health Benefits

• Medical insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans
• Employee assistance program

Financial and Savings Benefits

• 529 college savings plan
• Direct deposit
• Flexible spending account programs
• New York City Municipal Credit Union savings program
• Transit benefit programs
• Loan forgiveness

Retirement and Pension Plans

• New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) pension plan
• New York City Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) 401(k) and 457 plan

Additional Benefits for Union Members

• Disability insurance
• Health club reimbursements
• Life insurance
• Supplemental hospital coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Please note only employees represented by a labor union may qualify for additional benefits provided by the union welfare fund.

Employee Discounts

• Apple and Dell products
• Cell phones and plans
• Gym memberships
• Special pricing on event tickets through Barclay Center, Plum Benefits and Working Advantage
• And more!

Job ID: 782433

DCWP and the City of New York is an equal employment opportunity employer.