AGENCY ATTORNEY L3

Job Description

The New York City Housing Authority’s Law Department’s General Litigation Division seeks an attorney to litigate significant and complex employment and fair housing matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, and to defend the nation’s largest public housing agency in appeals from administrative determinations concerning tenancy-termination charges, applicant eligibility, remaining family- member lease succession rights, and Section 8 benefits.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Litigate employment and housing-related civil rights actions (mostly sounding in discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, failure to accommodate, etc.), having significant legal, policy, or financial implications, in both state and federal civil courts, including fact investigation, discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal.
2. Draft pleadings, legal memoranda, affidavits, and other documents in response to Article 78 and Article 81 proceedings in state court.
3. Appear for oral argument before trial and appellate courts.
4. Investigate and respond to housing and employment discrimination charges and complaints filed with administrative agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
5. Recommend settlement of litigation matters; negotiate and draft settlement agreements on behalf of the agency.
6. Respond to communications and notices from courts, agencies, opposing counsel, and internal agency stakeholders regarding potential or active litigation matters.
7. Perform other related duties, including researching legal questions and providing advice and counsel to other agency departments.

NOTE: The selected candidate is required to maintain confidentiality regarding all NYCHA proceedings.

Additional Information

1. Resume and cover letter must also include (if applicable) bar admission date(s) (month and year). Candidates must also provide two writing samples representing the candidate's efforts, not those of a reviewer; three references, listing their professional association and the circumstances under which they became familiar with the candidate's professional skills; and a copy of law school transcript.
2. NYCHA employees applying for transfer, promotional, title or level change opportunities must have served a period of one year at current location and in current title and level (if applicable).
3. NYCHA residents are encouraged to apply.
4. NYCHA provides benefits that include a choice of medical coverage plans, deferred compensation plans and a defined pension benefit plan as a member of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS).

Please read this posting carefully to make certain you meet the minimum qualification requirements before applying to this position.

AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087

Qualifications

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.

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.