City Of New York

Assistant General Counsel - ELU, Bureau of Office of General Counsel

City Of New York$90K — $120K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • JD from an accredited law school
  • Member in good standing of the New York State Bar or registered for the July 2026 Bar Exam
  • Completion of courses in conflict resolution, mediation, ADR, or critical thinking
  • Proven ability in clear and concise writing for diverse audiences
  • Demonstrated commitment to health equity and racial justice

Responsibilities

  • Conduct legal research regarding employee matters
  • Draft disciplinary petitions and related documents
  • Facilitate meetings with staff and union representatives to mediate cases
  • Assist Deputy Director in counseling Agency managers about outcomes
  • Represent the Agency in litigation and advocate for city interests
  • Prepare evidence and documentation for disciplinary processes
  • Create training materials for supervisory staff on progressive discipline

Benefits

  • Participation in mandatory Agency-wide emergency preparedness activities
  • Opportunities for professional development within the health sector
  • Engagement with a diverse population in a mission-driven environment
  • Involvement in significant legal processes impacting public service
Full Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION:

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the "NYC Health Department") Office of General Counsel (OGC) at the NYC Health Department provides legal support for the Agency and its many public health functions serving more than eight million New Yorkers. The Employment Law Unit ("ELU") exercises jurisdiction over all non-managerial employees working at NYC Health Department and is responsible for handling employee disciplinary matters and fitness for duty cases, among others. ELU serves as the NYC Health Department's liaison to the Conflicts of Interest Board and provides advice regarding Chapter 68 and other conflicts of interest matters.

ELU seeks an Assistant General Counsel to practice in all phases of the disciplinary process including investigations, preparation of disciplinary charges, and preparation for prosecution from the informal conference through the appeal process. This position involves drafting disciplinary charges, leading meetings with staff and union representatives to mediate cases for resolution in early stages, strategizing outcome options and advocating for resolutions in the best interest of the city, negotiating settlements and drafting settlement agreements. The attorney in this position will perform other duties as requested by the Office of General Counsel. ELU seeks a talented writer with great attention to detail and efficient organizational skills. In addition, administrative duties including organizing case files and updating the unit's database. Appearances are currently via video conference and in person at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Office of Labor Relations, and the Civil Service Commission. Additionally, ELU is responsible for providing Agency employees with advice concerning the conflicts of interest law and drafting conflict of interest law waiver requests. All NYC Health Department employees participate in mandatory Agency-wide activities for emergency preparedness and must respond promptly.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
Conduct legal research
Draft disciplinary petitions and documents
Attend meetings with staff and union representatives to mediate cases for resolution in early stages
Assist ELU Deputy Director with counseling Agency managers and strategize outcome options
Appear in litigation and assist with advocating for resolutions in the best interest of the City
Prepare evidence and documents for use in disciplinary cases
Draft settlement agreements
Appear in administrative venues via videoconference and in person at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Office of Labor
Relations, and the Civil Service Commission
Present training with slides to supervisory staff on the concept of progressive discipline and its relation to the administrative disciplinary process
Draft Chapter 68 Waiver requests to COIB
Other duties as requested by the Office of General Counsel.

PREFERRED SKILLS:
JD from an accredited law school, member in good standing of the New York State Bar, or registered to sit for July 2026 Bar Exam.
Conflict resolution, mediation, ADR, and/or critical thinking college or law school course completion.
Clear writing ability for extensive internal and external communications.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity and supporting racial justice.
Excellent communication skills, including emotional intelligence and connections building with external stakeholders.

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