Candidates must have been admitted to the New York State Bar and must have had two years of experience in the practice of law subsequent to admission to the Bar.
Duties Description Duties, travel, and work hours to be discussed at time of interview.
1. Advises Department staff on legal issues related to Contracts and procurement activity.
2. Acts as the liaison between Counsel’s Office and the Department’s Contract Procurement Unit.
3. Collaborates with the Deputy Counsel and/or designees on strategic initiatives involving contracts and the Department’s procurement process.
4. Acts as the Department’s Project Sunlight Liaison.
5. Functions as liaison between the Department and the Attorney General’s Office for specified lawsuits. Prepares answers to pleadings, discovery demands and affidavits. Drafts memoranda to Department staff on the status of litigation and proposed settlement negotiations.
6. Litigates Administrative Law hearings that include Human Rights cases related to employees.
7. Litigates other legal matters such as visitation appeals, FOIL appeals, Civil Service and Personnel Office appeals.
8. Responds to inquiries concerning legal issues from facilities and Central Office staff. Drafts letters and responses on behalf of the Commissioner.
9. Drafts memoranda on litigation status and proposed settlement negotiations.
10. Researches legal issues.
11. Responds to correspondence and telephone calls from incarcerated individuals’ legal representatives and responds to letters from incarcerated individuals.
12. Acts as liaison to the Incarcerated Individual Disciplinary Program concerning expungements and sealing orders.
13. Other tasks as assigned by the Deputy Commissioner and Counsel.
Additional Comments The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) is a unique state agency that touches wide range of fields: public safety, clemency, criminal investigations, medical, education, industries, trades, re-entry, counseling, food service, disciplinary hearings and arbitrations, ministerial, and investigations. Within the Office of Counsel, an assistant counsel provides legal advice to the various divisions within the agency as well as oversight and support to State and private counsel in litigation against the Department. In addition, an assistant counsel prepares and conducts hearings before an Administrative Law Judge before the Division of Human Rights.
An assistant counsel plays an important role liaising between the Department and the Office of the Attorney General in litigation against the Department in Federal and State courts. In this role they monitor litigation status by reviewing pleadings, discovery demands, affidavits and preparing internal memoranda related to proposed settlement negotiations.
An assistant counsel may be asked to perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Commissioner and Counsel, including but not limited to, advising Department staff on legal issues related to contracts and procurement activity, visitation appeals, and responding to legal representatives for members of the incarcerated population.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Name Michael Spring, Human Resource Specialist 1
Telephone 518-485-0862
Fax
Email Address michael.spring@doccs.ny.gov
Address
Street NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
1220 Washington Ave, Building 4
City Albany
State NY
Zip Code 12226
Notes on Applying If interested, please send cover letter and resume to the email of the contact listed.