Description:

This Position Is Part-Time, 20 Hours a Week.

A Government Entity, empowered by the New York City Charter, audits, evaluates, and monitors the City of New York's employment programs, practices, policies and procedures to ensure that individual City agencies and the City as a whole, maintain a firm and effective affirmative employment program of equal opportunity for minority group members and women employed by, or seeking employment with, City government. The A Government Entity advises and assists City agencies in their efforts to establish affirmative plans, measures, and programs to provide, and educate employees about, equal employment opportunities; implement and maintain effective employment practices which are non-discriminatory; and utilize discrimination complaint investigation procedures that conform to federal, state and local laws, regulations, policies and procedures. The A Government Entity also conducts research into matters of equal employment opportunity (EEO) and annually publishes reports in accordance with Local Law 13 of 2019, which requires a citywide analysis of racial and ethnic classification underutilization.

The A Government Entity is seeking to fill a part-time Agency Attorney position. This position is responsible for ensuring the A Government Entity's standards and protocols are legally sound and predicated on current law and best practices. The Agency Attorney position will work under the direction of the Executive Director as part of the Executive team, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative. An inquisitive self-starter with superior analytical and communication skills, the Agency Attorney will proactively perform the following tasks in accordance with the A Government Entity's City Charter mandate, including but not limited, to:
  • Research historical and current legal authority to support the A Government Entity's uniform standards.
  • Track and ensure the A Government Entity's compliance with legal mandates and reporting requirements including, but not limited to, those pertaining to the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act (Local Laws 92-101), NYC Government Publications Portal (City Charter Chapter 49 Section 1133); NYC Open Records (NY Public Officers Law, Article 6, Sections 84-90); Open Data laws; and New York Records Management and Retention laws.
  • Analyze and interpret pertinent provisions of the New York City Charter, and city, state, and federal EEO laws, regulations, policies, and best practices to address issues revealed during employment/EEO program analysis.
  • Educate audit and research staff on underlying legal authority for the EEPC's uniform standards to support employees' recognition of legal issues that arise during audits and compliance-monitoring.
  • Review and negotiate contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding. Draft legislation, memoranda of understanding, agreements, and other legal documents, and review documents drafted by the EEPC for legal sufficiency, as required.
  • Attend EEPC Board meetings and respond to Commissioner questions that may include but are not limited to the jurisdiction of the EEPC, interpretation of the New York City Charter and other legislation, conduct of meetings, and otherwise guide the Commissioners with respect to legal matters. Attend and testify at legislative hearings, as necessary.
  • Confer with EEO-personnel, subject matter experts, technical specialists, and other attorneys for the purpose of furthering legal research and preparing legal opinions and memoranda on behalf of the EEPC. Build mutually supportive professional relationships with external agencies and counterparts.
  • Serve as the EEPC's Records Access Officer. Review and respond to Freedom of Information Law requests. Provide general legal advice and support to the EEPC Executive staff on matters pertaining to the EEPC's overall functioning as a City agency.
  • Maintain the Commission's issue database, law library, and legal resources.
  • Perform other legal duties, special projects and reviews as directed by the Executive Director.

Minimum Qualifications:
Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Preferred Skills:
Strong oral and written communication skills strong analytical, research, and organizational skills. - Demonstrated knowledge of one or more of the following: the New York City Charter the New York City Human Rights Law mayoral/non-mayoral EEO Programs Citywide EEO policies/discrimination complaint procedures personnel rules and regulations the Americans with Disabilities Act and its Accessibility for Buildings and Facilities New York State Civil Service Law Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures and relevant City, State and Federal EEO laws.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/

Residency Requirement:
New York City Residency is not required for this position.