Collections Attorney

NYC Department of Finance (DOF) is responsible for administering the tax revenue laws of the city fairly, efficiently, and transparently to instill public confidence and encourage compliance while providing exceptional customer service. DOF’s Legal Affairs Division serves as the in-house legal department for DOF, providing professional and comprehensive legal advice and services supporting a full range of city tax and other revenue-related matters.

About the role

The Collections Law Unit supports the agency’s collections efforts, handling the collection of tax warrants, bankruptcy issues, collections related legal matters, and violations and other debt collected by the agency. The unit is seeking an experienced collections attorney to represent DOF in a broad range of debt collection matters.

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research and draft memoranda, legal documents, and other written analyses related to complicated, important, or high-value debt collection matters.
• Provide legal advice and counsel to DOF’s Collections Division and other agency-operating divisions and prepare legal responses to inquiries as needed.
• Research and review debt for collections.
• Advise on bankruptcy issues.
• Work collaboratively with the Law Department and DOF operating divisions to resolve bankruptcy and collections matters.
• Prepare, review, and/or sign legal collection and enforcement documents, including executions and restraining notices.
• Review offers using compromise applications, addressing inquiries and matters from outside collections firms.
• Handle mortgage foreclosure matters and submit surplus money claims in court.
• Provide legal counsel and support on issues concerning Public Improvement Liens, bonds, and levy issues.
• Collect debt, including ECB and tax warrant debt, and provide legal services in support of debt collections efforts.
• Prepare required legal documents and advise the Sheriff’s Office on executions, restraining notices, information subpoenas, and other documents as needed.
• Draft, analyze, and review legislation, policies, regulations, statutes, as well as agency forms and guidance.
• Work with staff in the Collections Division on collections projects and matters.
• Handle general legal matters and special assignments, including representing the agency in court and administrative proceedings as needed.
• Research and draft legal responses to claims or actions filed against the agency as needed.
• Provide legal counsel to the agency’s operational staff, including CPLR-related legal matters, collections issues, judgment and docketing, ECB, and other City-related debt.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• One of the following:
  • 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 Internee (30086).
• Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Qualifications

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.

Preferred Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong legal research skills and experience handling detailed and complex matters.
• Experience with legal collections and bankruptcy is a plus.

Benefits

• This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed between the City and the Collective Bargaining Unit.
• 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, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

Pay

$92,525.00 – $121,000.00

New York City residency is not required for this position.