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The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.
The Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) serve as in-house counsel to DEP. The work of the Bureau is managed by four units, representing the large array of matters that come before it, divided as follows: Environmental Affairs Unit, Water Supply & Environmental Litigation Unit, Contracts & Employment Unit, and Infrastructure & Operations Unit. The members of the Bureau are responsible for ensuring that all the agency’s legal needs are addressed, working in conjunction with the New York City Law Department, which represents the agency in litigation.
BLA has an exciting career opportunity for an Assistant Counsel who will work under the general supervision of the Senior Enforcement Counsel and serve as an attorney within the Agency’s Bureau of Legal Affairs. The Assistant Counsel primary responsibility will be preparing cases involving the violation of DEP’s local laws and regulations concerning air and noise pollution, stormwater permit requirements, asbestos abatement and the handling of hazardous materials and will argue such cases before hearing officers at the City’s Office of Administrative Hearings and Appeals. In addition, the attorney will provide advice and counsel on legal matters to DEP’s Bureau of Environmental Compliance (BEC) concerning enforcement of local laws, revisions to existing rules, researching emerging legal issues impacting DEP enforcement program and drafting new rules to support BEC policy directives. The attorney will also review and provide legal advice with respect to proposed city, state and federal laws and regulations impacting DEP’s local enforcement program.
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.
