Staff Counsel

Salary: $83,000.00 / $95,450.00* 

*Minimum with two years of continuous city service

Division/Work Unit: Office of Labor Policy & Standards

Job ID: 791838

Hours/Shift: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Job Description

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and our work, visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for the newsletter, or follow us on social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Founded in 2014, the Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, and Delivery Worker Laws that protect delivery workers classified as independent contractors. OLPS settles and litigates dozens of large cases a year on behalf of classes of workers who have experienced violations of pay or scheduling rights. We have recovered over $120 million for workers through enforcement and raised pay by over $1 billion via the minimum pay rate for delivery workers classified as independent contractors. We also administer the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations, and we bring pattern and practice litigation on behalf of freelancers against repeat violators. Under all laws we enforce, OLPS obtains monetary compensation for workers for violations and brings companies into compliance. Working closely with outside stakeholders, OLPS also advocates for new laws, performs research and data analysis to make policy recommendations, and conducts outreach and education to workers, employers, and the general public. Under Mayor Mamdani, DCWP’s worker protection enforcement staff is rapidly expanding from a staff of 45 to 75 in 2026, with further expansion planned in future years. More information about our office is available at nyc.gov/workers. 

DCWP is seeking an attorney with two or more years of litigation experience and interest in issues affecting low wage workers.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Lead complex investigations to develop evidence suited to litigation, in collaboration with investigation teams of data scientists and investigators. 
• Review investigators' reports and evaluate the strength of evidence for litigation. 
• Litigate enforcement actions to obtain monetary relief for employees who experience workplace violations. This includes drafting pleadings and motions, managing discovery, interviewing witnesses, preparing witnesses to testify, developing damages calculations, advocating for DCWP at settlement conferences and other appearances, and trying cases.
• Edit and draft Consent Orders and negotiate settlement terms with employers to resolve enforcement matters.
• Perform legal research to support OLPS enforcement and policy work.
• Write letters, legal briefs, and legal research memos on matters related to enforcement and policy.
• Write public-facing materials about the laws OLPS enforces. 

This position is an exciting opportunity to be involved with a growing office working on the next generation of labor laws. The ideal candidate possesses a strong attention to detail, excellent time management and organizational skills, enjoys the challenge of performing complex legal research, collaborating with diverse teams, working with both attorneys and non-attorneys, and tackling novel legal and policy questions creatively.

Note: The posted salary range is for an Agency Attorney Level II. Attorneys who do not meet the minimum qualifications for Assignment Level II may be considered if they meet the minimum qualifications for Agency Attorney Level I. Recent law graduates who do not have 1 year of legal experience or 6 months of service as an Agency Attorney Interne would be considered for the Assignment Level of Agency Attorney Interne. The salary ranges for these titles are as follows: 

Agency Attorney Interne: $72,510 to $83,388 

Agency Attorney, Assignment Level I: $73,476 to $84,498 

Minimum Qualification Requirements

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

• Experience with all aspects of litigation, from fact development and initial pleadings through trial
• Commitment to social justice and interest in addressing the challenges faced by low-wage workers
• Leadership skills, including the ability to think and plan strategically and supporting high-performing, diverse work teams 
• The ability to establish rapport and interact effectively and respectfully with multi-functional teams comprised of attorney and non-attorney staff 
• Experience working in government, including litigation, legislative, and/or investigative experience
• Experience representing or advocating for the labor and employment rights of workers
• The ability to problem-solve creatively 
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and analytical skills 
• The ability to effectively manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines 
• Fluency in a language other than English

To Apply 

To apply for this position, please submit your application exclusively through the Jobs NYC website. Only applications submitted via the Jobs NYC platform will be considered for review. The Job ID is located at the top of this page. 

A resume and cover letter are required as part of the application. In your cover letter, please include the following:

• Civil service title you currently hold or whether you have taken any civil service exams (if applicable).
• The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage 55-a candidates to apply. If eligible, please indicate this in your cover letter. 

Incomplete applications or those missing the required documents will not be considered. 

Reasonable Accommodations 

DCWP is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to employment opportunities. If you need an accommodation to participate in the interview process, please contact us at ReasonableAccommodationRequests@dcwp.nyc.gov. 

Please note the following important application instructions: 

• No phone calls, faxes, emails, or in-person inquiries will be accepted. 
• Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. If you do not receive communication from us, please consider your application as not being selected for this position. 
• Drug Screening: Please be aware that a drug screening may be required prior to appointment. Candidates will be notified if this is necessary as part of the pre-employment process. 

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

For any questions or concerns regarding your application, please email the recruitment team at dcwpjobs@dcwp.nyc.gov. 

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 (EAP)

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 

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. 

Student Loan Forgiveness 

DCWP qualifies as a public service employer, which means our employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. If you have federal student loans, you may be able to have your loans forgiven by working full-time in public service. To learn more about PSLF and its eligibility requirements, visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program website. 

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!

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