Position Summary: The
Legal Services Senior Field Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice, guidance, and training to school administrators and district-based staff on issues relating to federal, state, and local legal requirements and NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) regulations and policies. Performs related work.
Reports to: Deputy Counsel and Director of Senior Field Counsel
Direct Reports: Co-supervises disciplinary investigator
Key Relationships: General Practice Unit, Privacy Unit, Press Office, Special Commissioner of Investigation, Office of Special Investigations, Division of School Leadership, Labor, Human Resource Directors, Special Education and the Office of Safety and Youth Development.
Responsibilities - Works collaboratively with superintendents, principals, and central legal team to support efficient, systematic, and legally and educationally sound service delivery in schools.
- Serves as a liaison between central and field offices to resolve and respond to complex legal issues in schools and school districts.
- Serves as a liaison to the New York City Law Department, and units within the NYCPS's Office of the General Counsel in connection with legal proceedings.
- In consultation with the Press Office and Senior Field Counsel Director, drafts and reviews correspondence and communications to the public on behalf of school administrators.
- Responds to inquiries on a wide array of legal issues, including as related to labor and employment, privacy and student records, constitutional issues, student health and safety, education law, civil rights, compliance with laws and regulations, and implementation of NYCPS's rules, regulations, and procedures.
- Reviews and advises on school-based investigations conducted by school administrators.
- Serves as the on-site point of contact on legal issues for principals and district staff; works collaboratively to provide consistent and prompt legal advice to support schools and administrators.
- Conducts on-site training regarding Chancellor's Regulations and relevant legal requirements.
- Reviews proposed disciplinary matters and ensures compliance with relevant procedures.
- Consults on student discipline matters; may prepare suspension appeal decisions.
- May investigate and prepare responses to complaints of discrimination filed with administrative agencies.
- Reviews and makes appearances on small claims cases.
- Responds to Freedom of Information Law and subpoena requests.
- Assists with all local and non-local law enforcement requests.
- Serves as point of contact for school-based emergencies and legal escalations.
Qualification Requirements: Minimum 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, of which eighteen months must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing complex legal work.
Note : Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.
Preferred - Experience in employment or education law.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Ability to rapidly understand provisions of applicable law and regulations.
- Ability to write clearly and concisely.
- Ability to conduct legal research efficiently and provide prompt, clear and concise advice to school administrators.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to take initiative and be self-motivated and flexible.
- Ability to work with and advise senior leaders across multiple divisions.
- Ability to work well in a high-volume, fast-paced work environment.
Salary : $121,000 - $125,000
(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)
Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding. * NewYorkCityResidency is NOT Required * We encourage all applicants from the NewYorkCity tri-state area to apply. 
