Associate Counsel

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is seeking a highly collaborative individual to serve as an Associate Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support and advice to the Human Resources, Health and Safety, and Labor Relations Bureaus of the Office.
• Draft, review, edit, and advise on the development of policies involving all areas of employment including reasonable accommodation, human rights, and family leave.
• Respond to EEOC and Human Rights complaints on behalf of the Office and liaison with the Office of Employee Relations on discrimination investigations.
• Represent the agency in administrative hearings, such as arbitration hearings related to employee discipline; interview and prepare witnesses, present evidence, draft briefs and motions.
• Serve as liaison with the claim and litigation bureaus of the Office of the Attorney General and function as the Chief Legal Hold Compliance and e-discovery officer.
• Prepare periodic reports on pending cases and maintain the agency’s litigation docket.
• Assist the Ethics Officer in reviewing inquiries regarding compliance with Public Officer’s Law.
• Advise staff on health and safety issues, particularly those that may result in negligence claims against the State.
• Periodic travel to state parks and other sites related to litigation matters or to provide training to staff on related topics.
• Handle other related duties as assigned due to the small size of the office and diversity of issues that arise.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar and four years of experience in the practice of law subsequent to admission to the Bar.
• Current registration to practice in New York State is necessary for continued employment; disbarment or loss of registration shall result in removal from this position.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Sound judgment and a high degree of confidentiality.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities at one time.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of legal experience in administrative or civil litigation, preferably with experience in employment law, labor relations, or health and safety.
• Experience drafting and reviewing legal documents.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Benefits

To learn about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx.

Schedule

Employees may be approved for a maximum of 50% telecommuting, however, they are required to apply and obtain approval through management in accordance with the agency's Telecommuting Program Guidelines.