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: 795319

Hours/Shift: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Job Description

**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week or compressed work schedule, 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 nearly 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need 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 Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 

DCWP is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Staff Counsel in the General Counsel Division, to enforce laws that protect NYC consumers and promote the Mayor’s affordability agenda. The Staff Counsel will be responsible for initiating, investigating, and litigating cutting edge cases at the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and New York state court against individuals and businesses that violate New York City’s licensing and consumer protection laws. Reporting to the Associate General Counsel, Staff Counsel responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Investigating and prosecuting businesses engaged in illegal conduct, including those operating online and in web-based industries;
• Identifying unlawful conduct for potential investigation and litigation, and effectively developing investigation plans; 
• Overseeing industry-specific regulatory compliance projects and rulemakings; 
• Developing large scale regulatory enforcement plans; 
• Performing legal research and drafting memorandum on legal issues facing the agency;
• Drafting general correspondence and legal documents to respondents, opposing counsel, regulated businesses, consumers and others; 
• Conducting depositions, engaging in settlement negotiations, and trying cases on behalf of the agency at New York City’s administrative tribunal and state court; 
• Drafting and negotiating settlement agreements of enforcement proceedings initiated by attorneys; and
• Participating in review of external-facing material for agency outreach and trainings for business and public education. 

The ideal candidate will be responsible for these functions, as well as for special projects and assignments related to consumer or licensee issues or to DCWP’s operations. In addition, as part of these functions, the Staff Counsel is responsible for careful case project management and operational tasks necessary to support and effectuate this work.

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 

• At least two years of litigation experience, including in New York State courts and at the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) 
• Demonstrated excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving and time management skills 
• Interest in or experience in regulating online and technology-based products and services
• Proficient in conducting legal research and undertaking factual investigations, including experience reviewing documents and conducting witness interviews and depositions 
• Demonstrated excellent legal research and writing skills, with the ability to present clearly organized and structured written work product 
• Comfort with data-driven analysis and strategic planning 
• Attention to detail, and ability to receive feedback and adjust to grow skillsets 
• Able to interact effectively with multi-functional teams comprised of attorney and non-attorney staff
• Able to effectively manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines 
• Desire to develop investigative, writing and litigation skills, with a desire to receive coaching and ability to receive feedback 
• References that can confirm legal skills 
• Experience and knowledge in consumer protection laws, administrative law, and/or false advertising litigation is preferred, but not required 

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 the 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.