Job Information
City of New York Agency Attorney L-2 in New York, New York
Job Description
About the Agency:
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love.
We maintain building and resident safety and health
We create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability
We engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity.
HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness,” Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. To support this important work, the administration has committed $5 billion in new capital funding, bringing the 10-year planned investment in housing to $22 billion the largest in the city’s history. This investment, coupled with a commitment to reduce administrative and regulatory barriers, is a multi-pronged strategy to tackle New York City’s complex housing crisis, by addressing homelessness and housing instability, promoting economic stability and mobility, increasing homeownership opportunities, improving health and safety, and increasing opportunities for equitable growth.
Your Team:
The Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services works closely with other HPD divisions and outside community partners to identify buildings with violation problems, assess and develop appropriate strategies to address those properties, and work closely with responsible owners to develop a plan to improve conditions and return buildings to firm financial footing and physical health. HPD uses enforcement tools within the Division of Code Enforcement, Housing Litigation Division, Emergency Repair Program or the Division of Special Enforcement to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations. The Housing Litigation Division initiates litigation against owners seeking to obtain orders to correct and civil penalties and to maintain and improve the quality and safety of housing in New York City.
Your Impact:
The Housing Litigation Division (HLD) initiates litigation against property owners in Housing Court to ensure compliance with housing standards contained in the New York City Housing Maintenance Code and New York State Multiple Dwelling Law. HLD seeks orders to correct violations, civil penalties, access warrants, 7-a Administrators and appears in tenant-initiated proceedings.
Your Role:
As an Agency Attorney L-2 for the Manhattan Unit and under the direction of the Assistant Commissioner and/or Supervising Attorney in the Housing Litigation Division, the selected candidate's responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, the following:
Key responsibilities:
Serving as a Staff Attorney litigating cases on behalf of HPD’s Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) to enforce the NYC Housing Maintenance Code and NYS Multiple Dwelling Law in the Housing Part of New York City Civil Court and on occasion in NYS Supreme Court;
Executing difficult and involved negotiations on behalf of the agency;
Researching and preparing complex briefs, motions, legal opinions, affidavits, memoranda and other legal papers and arguing them before Housing Court;
Preparing for and conducting trials, including but not limited to preparing witnesses and documentary evidence;
Advising on legal aspects of enforcement and administration of acts, rules, laws and regulations related to the enforcement of housing standards.
Note:
- This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed to between the City and Local 237.
Qualifications
Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
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.
Additional Information
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.
