The NYC Law Department is accepting applications for the position of Deputy Chief of its General Litigation Division which represents the City in Federal and State court litigation in both routine matters and challenges to important programs in diverse areas including education, health care, prison conditions, foster care, freedom of information, public assistance benefits, campaign finance and election law. Many of the Division's cases are brought as class actions in federal court and raise complex and novel issues of statutory and constitutional construction. Recent cases involve: challenges to the educational programs and services offered to special needs children and the due process complaint system that adjudicates claims of failures to provide such services; challenges pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding accessibility of court houses and police stations for disabled persons; and challenges to the conditions of confinement at NYC jails. Division lawyers are responsible for their own caseloads and handle court conferences, oral arguments, discovery, the preparation of legal papers, and hearings. The Deputy Chief will (i) assist the Chief in both the oversight of the work of the Division in all practice areas and with the management of the Division’s approximately 26 attorneys and 6 professional support staff in the Division; (ii) supervise a team of attorneys; (iii) advise line staff and supervisors when cases present challenging issues of substantial, policy-making, and/or precedential importance ; (iv) have primary responsibility for assigning new and reassigned cases to Division teams; directing cases, where appropriate, to other divisions; and delegating appropriate cases to other agencies; (v) assist with the review of case abstracts and closing papers; (vi) assist in training of Division attorneys, supervisors, and support professionals; and (vii) litigate complex high-profile cases.

Applicants should have extensive experience litigating and providing counseling in both class and individual actions, and in the substantive areas that the Division practices. Applicants must have a history of supervisory experience of attorneys. Applicants must also have excellent oral and written communication skills and strong inter-personal skills. Applicants must also possess exceptional organizational abilities, strong legal writing and analytical skills, and excellent judgment. Applicants must be admitted to the bars of, and be in good standing in, the courts of New York State, and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

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New York City Residency is not required for this position.

Recruitment Contact: Lillian Evans / Director of Legal Recruitment and Development
Email: recruitment@law.nyc.gov