ELU Agency Attorney

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $87,003 - $100,053.

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services, and provides subsidized child care vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal representation and advice to the Commissioner and all divisions at ACS. OGC identifies areas of legal vulnerability and coordinates with other Divisions to ensure compliance with court orders, consent decrees, and other legal and regulatory mandates. OGC also works closely with the NYC Law Department to minimize risk and avoid litigation and defend ACS in class action and individual lawsuits. OGC is comprised of six legal units and two non-legal units.

The Employment Law Unit (ELU), within the Office of the General Counsel at Administration for Children's Services, seeks an Agency Attorney. ELU handles investigations and proceedings as to employee misconduct and unfitness under the CSL, researches and responds to external discrimination complaints, trains agency staff and leadership in employment law issues, liaises with the Law Department, NYC Department of Investigation, and other external oversight and stakeholders, and counsels agency leaders regarding employment law issues and policy initiatives.

Under supervision with wide latitude for judgment, the ELU Agency Attorney candidate will:

-Investigate allegations of incompetence and both on-duty and off- duty misconduct on the part of ACS employees.
-Prepare and present disciplinary proceedings against ACS employees with civil service and rights (Civil Service Law Section 75) as well as under CBA grievance procedures.
-Serve as hearing officers at internal administrative hearings regarding matters of employee misconduct, pursuant to the CBA grievance procedure.
-Advise the General Counsel and the Commissioner on disciplinary penalties/settlements, areas of potential liability to the agency is the area of employment law and discrimination complaints. -Defend the agency against external complaints of employment discrimination.
- Investigate, research, and submit position papers to the EEOC, NYSDHR, and NYCHRC regarding such complaints.
-Present employee unfitness cases under Civil Service Law Section 72.
-Liaise with the Law Department on lawsuits against the agency involving employment discrimination.
-Provide guidance to managers and program area leadership on employment law/disciplinary issues both on a case by case basis and through regular trainings
-Fulfill DOI information requests with regard to employees under DOI investigation, in accordance with applicable legal requirements
-Consult with ACS’ internal OEEO and other relevant divisions regarding legal implications of reasonable accommodations and other related issues
-Provide orientation to new employees on the agency Code of Conduct


ADDITONAL INFO:
Section 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.


TO APPLY:
Please go to www.cityjobs.nyc.gov or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID # 627741.

No phone calls, faxes or personal inquiries permitted.

Note: Only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

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.

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.