General Counsel

General CounselThe Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) develops innovative solutions to public safety challenges, reducing crime and incarceration. We create vital programs that improve lives, generate community stability, and increase access to the support needed to maintain healthy and safe New York City neighborhoods. Recognizing that public safety cannot be achieved by law enforcement alone, MOCJ moves our city forward by collaborating with community and institutional stakeholders to improve efficiency, accountability, and fairness in the justice system.Reporting the agency Director, the General Counsel serves as the Office's chief legal officer and a member of the Executive Team, providing strategic legal guidance across the agency's portfolios and exercising a high level of independent judgment. The General Counsel also serves as the Administrative Justice Coordinator, responsible for overseeing the agency's City administrative matters, case matters, and legal status tracking, ensuring that legal strategy aligns with City administrative requirements and agency operations. As a member of the Executive Team, the General Counsel works collaboratively with senior leadership to support the agency's strategic priorities and operational effectiveness, while serving as the Office's primary liaison to the New York City Law Department and other legal partners. The successful candidate must be solutions-oriented and able to execute quickly in a fast-paced government environment.Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:Providing legal oversight and strategic guidance on the Office's legal, compliance, and policy mattersProviding legal oversight of agency contracting activity, including reviewing complex agreements, MOUs, and procurement instruments and advising leadership on legal and compliance implicationsProviding legal oversight of internal disciplinary investigations and coordination with external contracted investigation entities and review teamsSupervising and supporting the Office's legal staff, providing guidance, mentorship, and review of work product to ensure high-quality legal analysis and professional developmentServing as Administrative Justice Coordinator, responsible for coordinating and monitoring the Office's City administrative matters, case matters, and legal status reporting, including tracking litigation, legal inquiries, and matters requiring coordination with the Law DepartmentLiaising with Mayor's Counsel and the NYC Law Department on litigation support, legislative matters, and legal strategy involving criminal justice policyLiaising with the Conflicts of Interest Board and providing guidance to agency staff to ensure compliance with the Conflicts of Interest LawLiaising with federal, State and City investigative agencies, including the Department of Investigation, to ensure appropriate responses to investigative and related mattersServing as the agency's Records Appeals Officer and overseeing agency compliance with the Freedom of Information LawWorking closely with the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA), the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services (ILS), and indigent defense providers, including the Assigned Counsel Plan and institutional defender organizations, on matters related to indigent defense policy, funding, legal compliance, and operational coordinationAdvising the Director and Executive Team on legal risk, regulatory compliance, and policy implications of agency initiativesReviewing legal work product and providing feedback to support attorney development and ensure consistency of legal standardsWorking collaboratively with agency leadership on policy development, operational procedures, and governance mattersRepresenting the Office before City Council, community meetings, and interagency forums, as neededWorking closely with Human Resources on confidential personnel mattersSupporting legislative analysis and coordination with Intergovernmental AffairsProviding legal guidance across a range of subject areas including criminal justice, labor, procurement, privacy, and administrative lawPlease submit your resume and cover letter explaining your interest in this specific position.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:Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, preferably in government, public service, criminal justice policy, or complex administrative law environmentsDemonstrated experience advising senior leadership or executive management on legal strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational decision-makingStrong knowledge of New York City and New York State government structures, including familiarity with municipal administrative processes and intergovernmental coordination.Experience with criminal justice policy and systems, including courts, prosecution, defense services, and community justice initiativesFamiliarity with indigent defense systems, including collaboration with the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA), the Office of Indigent Legal Services (ILS), Assigned Counsel Plans, and institutional defender organizationsExperience reviewing and advising on government procurement, contracts, and Memoranda of Understanding, particularly within a municipal or state regulatory frameworkKnowledge of public sector compliance requirements, including FOIL, privacy and data governance, ethics, and other administrative legal requirementsStrong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to evaluate complex legal issues and translate them into practical operational guidance for leadershipExceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to brief senior officials, present before City Council, and represent the agency in intergovernmental forumsDemonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters, including personnel issues, litigation strategy, and high-profile policy initiativesProven ability to build collaborative relationships across agencies, courts, community organizations, and external partnersStrong organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast-paced public sector environmentPublic 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 Requirement: New York City Residency is not required for this positionAdditional 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.