RCU Agency Attorney

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $80,387 - $92,446.

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) FOIL/Records Compliance & Records Management Unit seek an Agency Attorney. The Records and Compliance Unit is responsible for all FOIL requests for the agency; all closed child protective records requests for the agency; is the agency the liaison for the New York City Law Department Torts Division; the Special Federal Litigation Unit; the Special Litigation Unit; provides advice and support to agency staff regarding the confidentiality of the child protective services records and the Identifying Identification Law which is the responsibility of the Agency Privacy Officer (“APO”). The APO is responsible for monitoring the agency’s compliance with this local law, by collecting agency wide data and submitting all reports to the Chief Privacy Officer, the Mayor and the NYC Council.

The Records Management Unit, which encompasses the ACS Records Warehouse, provides support to the entire agency in retrieving and storing records. This requires coordination between the RMU warehouse and the vendor in Jersey City; the RMU warehouse is responsible for ensuring that the SCR review documents are submitted timely to the SCR; The Records Management Unit is responsible for expunging records in accordance with NY Social Services Law. The Records & Compliance Unit (“RCU”) Agency Attorney under supervision will process time-sensitive child protective services (“CPS”) record requests. These include requests from the Office of the District Attorneys in all five boroughs; federal subpoenas; interjurisdictional requests; legal advocacy groups representing some of our most vulnerable citizens; individual requests from members of the public who may have been involved in a child protective investigation.

The Agency Attorney is responsible for reviewing non-attorney staff work assignments and records requests. This includes assigning the requests and ensuring that they are completed in accordance with applicable law, in a timely manner. The Agency Attorney must provide instruction and legal support in the preparation and production of the records. The Agency Attorney under supervision will provide litigation support for the NYC Law Department by producing ACS records, contracts and other documents, and witness notifications for the General Torts Division; Special Federal Litigation Unit; the Special Litigation Unit as needed to defend the City of New York and the Administration for Children’s Services. Under supervision, the Agency Attorney II will assist the Agency Privacy Officer (“APO”) with implementation of the Identifying Information Law by providing legal consultations; monitoring the agency’s compliance with this local law, which requires the collection of data and the preparation and submission of quarterly and bi-annual reports to the Chief Privacy Officer, the Mayor and the NYC Council.

The duties of the Agency Attorney will include but may not be limited to the following:

- Respond to requests for child protective investigation records in accordance with New York Social Services Law.
- Respond to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests for agency records pursuant to NY Public Officer’s Law.
- Draft motions, legal memorandum and appear in court on subpoenas for agency records.
- Assist with reviewing non-attorney work product including providing instruction and guidance on assignments.
- Conduct legal research and draft memorandum on confidentiality and privacy issues under NY Social Services Law, NY Public Officers Law and the Identifying Information Law.
- Liaise with the New York City Law Department on litigation matters for state tort and federal special litigation cases.
- Assist the Agency Privacy Officer with the investigation of violations and consultations on the Identifying Information Law for agency staff, human services contractors, and members of the public.
- Assist with special projects for the Records Management Unit that is responsible for the creation, distribution, and retention of records for the agency.



ADDITIONAL 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 # 682883.

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.