The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 9,000 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts.
The DOC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill an executive vacancy for Executive Agency Counsel, M-IV, designated Deputy General Counsel, Legal Matters. Under the executive direction of the Deputy Commissioner for Legal Matters, with wide latitude for independent judgment, action, and decision making, the Deputy General Counsel serves as a key legal and policy advisor on all legal, policy, operational, and administrative issues impacting the Department and formulating policy on many complex and sensitive legal issues and procedures as they affect the Department.
The Deputy General Counsel serves as a legal advisor to the Executive Staff and the Department on the broad range of issues affecting the Department and serves as a liaison to other Federal, State, and local government agencies, including the New York City Law Department, state and federal prosecutors, and the courts. The Deputy General Counsel will assist with the management and oversight of the Legal Division and may be called upon to represent the Department in various types of legal proceedings. The Deputy General Counsel will also manage their own caseload of legal matters.
Tasks will include but are not limited to the following:
- Serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters/General Counsel in that official’s temporary absence. May represent the General Counsel at meetings with other public and private agencies, contractors, and legislative bodies.
- Directly supervises attorneys and administrative support personnel of the units which fall under the Office of the General Counsel. Coordinates the activities of these units; sets goals, objectives, and priorities for each unit.
- Participates in formulating agency-wide policy as well as the policies and procedures governing the Office of the General Counsel and the Department.
- Reviews new and established procedures to ensure compliance with existing laws, regulations, and guidelines set by the Federal, State, and City authorities, and advises the Department on questions of law.
- Supervises the drafting of standard contract forms, stipulations, affidavits, memorandum of understandings, as well as the drafting of special contracts. May participate in contract negotiations.
- Advises the General Counsel concerning proposed legislative changes, including developing legal arguments supporting proposals sponsored by the agency.
- Establishes a system of managerial controls to monitor performance. Makes summary reports to executive management.
- Is responsible for the analysis and resolution of legal queries and issues, including, but not limited to, the amendment and implementation of department policies.
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 - A minimum of five (5) years of legal experience, with all or some of that time preferably in a government agency or the legal department/in-house counsel unit of a private entity.
- Demonstrates the ability to manage a team of employees in a legal setting.
- Excellent writing, communication, inter-personal, analytical, research, problem-solving, multi-tasking, and organizational skills.
- Ability to maintain and handle confidential documents and information.
- Ability to interact with other city agencies, including Department of Investigations, New York Police Department, and District Attorney’s offices.
- Ability to work strategically and collaboratively with inter-departmental units.
- Ability to communicate highly complex information clearly and succinctly, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to work under intense pressure and meet restrictive deadlines.
- An understanding of corrections work, or law enforcement work generally.
Residency Requirement New York City residency is not required.
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.
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