Associate Counsel (Office for Justice Initiatives)

Duties

Under the direction of the Hon. Edwina G. Richardson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives, the Associate Counsel hired for this position will be primarily responsible for supporting the UCS’ child fatality advisory team and for working with the Office for Justice Initiatives staff on ongoing child welfare and family justice initiatives, including the administration of the UCS’ Child Welfare Court Improvement Project. Both tasks will require travel across New York State.

The chosen candidate will be expected to:
• Facilitate the review of court records, where a parent, guardian, guardian substitute or relative known to the court system causes or contributes to the suspicious death of a child.
• Prepare reports for the UCS leadership which summarizes each fatality and the court’s involvement therewith and identifies recommended policy changes and prevention initiatives.
• Provide recommendations for improving court procedures, promoting best practices, and educating judges and court staff.
• Provide technical assistance to the child welfare court improvement project and family court judges and court staff.
• Research and analyze new case law as it develops in the area of child welfare and family justice.

Associate Counsel research, prepare and analyze complex legal questions and issues
concerning proposed administrative rules, legislation, and litigation. They advise judges and non-judicial personnel on the implications of procedures and programs and perform other related duties. Associate Counsel also assist the Assistant Deputy Counsel in specialized areas of the law which relate to the development and implementation of court policies and the administration of the unified court
system.

LOCATION: OFFICE FOR JUSTICE INITIATIVES
ANY STATEWIDE REGIONAL OFFICE (NYC, Albany, Long Island, Westchester, Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Syracuse)

Salary

• $110,853/year

Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and One year of service in the Senior Counsel title; or Three years relevant legal experience, including up to 18 months pre-admission experience

How to Apply

All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a UCS-5 Application for Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at www.nycourts.gov/careers/UCS5.pdf) and a cover letter and resume by email to OJI-Applications@nycourts.gov or mail to:

Hon. Edwina G. Richardson
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge
Office for Justice Initiatives
25 Beaver Street, Room 1015
New York, NY 10004