Career Center

Staff Counsel – Workers’ Rights

Looking for a: Attorney
Practice Area: Labor & Employment, Workers' Compensation
Job Type: Full-Time
Starting Salary: $7,000
Job Duration: Permanent
Job Description:

Job Description
THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE WORK FOR UP TO 2 DAYS PER WEEK, PURSUANT TO THE REMOTE WORK PILOT PROGRAM.
To Apply: Email your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the Job ID number and Position Name in the subject line.

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, and Delivery Worker Laws that protect app-based restaurant delivery workers. In OLPS’ large, citywide enforcement actions, teams of attorneys, data scientists, and investigators work together to obtain compensation owed to workers and improve employer compliance. Other programs include the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations, and our Paid Care Division, which focuses on workplace issues specific to nannies, housecleaners, home health aides, and other paid care workers. More information about our office is available at nyc.gov/workers.

DCWP is seeking an attorney with interest in issues affecting low-wage workers to enforce worker protections under all OLPS laws. The attorney will serve on the Investigations Team. Responsibilities include:
• Provide legal advice and support to investigators.
• Handle investigations, including obtaining evidence from workers and employers and collaborating with data scientists, attorneys, and investigators to evaluate it.
• Write findings letters to employers documenting investigation conclusions and employee relief owed.
• Investigate and settle wrongful termination cases, including fast-track retaliation cases and cases arising under the groundbreaking new “just cause” provisions of the Fair Workweek Law for fast food workers.
• Write letters, legal briefs, and legal research memos on matters related to enforcement and policy.
• Edit and draft Consent Orders and negotiate settlement terms with employers to resolve enforcement matters.

This position is an exciting opportunity to be involved with a growing office working on the next generation of labor laws. The ideal candidate enjoys the challenge of a complex investigation, collaborating with diverse teams, working with both attorneys and non-attorneys, and tackling novel legal and procedural questions creatively.

Minimum Qualification Requirements
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 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.

PLEASE NOTE: New York City residency is not required.

Preferred Skills
• Commitment to social and economic justice and interest in addressing the challenges faced by low-wage workers.
• Leadership skills, including the ability to think and plan strategically and supporting high-performing, diverse work teams.
• The ability to establish rapport and interact effectively and respectfully with multi-functional teams comprised of attorney and non-attorney staff.
• Experience working in government, including litigation, legislative, and/or investigative experience.
• Experience representing or advocating for the labor and employment rights of workers.
• The ability to problem-solve creatively.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and analytical skills.
• The ability to effectively manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines.
• Fluency in a language other than English.

Location: New York, New York
Posted On: September 18, 2024 at 10:09 am