Records Access Unit Attorney, OGC - 26510

Responsibilities

• Processes FOIL requests, including monitoring compliance with legal obligations, reviewing records for responsiveness and lawful redaction, and drafting FOIL legal determinations.
• Communicates with individuals both inside and outside the NYCPS concerning actual or potential requests.
• Maintains and utilizes databases and other time management tools to monitor FOIL compliance, such as timeliness of responses and appropriateness of released materials.
• Conducts legal research and drafts legal memoranda concerning FOIL and other related statutes.
• Organizes files and documents throughout the lifecycle of a request.
• Provides ongoing technical assistance to other NYCPS staff.
• Reviews records for responsiveness and conducts lawful redaction with an emphasis on both first- and second-level review.
• Performs ediscovery tasks including searching, uploading, reviewing, redacting, and finalizing productions of electronically maintained records.
• Communicates with NYCPS offices, schools, and other individuals concerning actual or potential requests.
• Ensures that proper procedures concerning consent and authentication of identity are being followed.
• Recommends strategies and drafts determinations.
• Creates, tracks, and/or updates reports pertaining to the progress of FOIL requests.
• Assists with training and other special projects on an as-needed basis.
• Implements NYCPS policy and legal mandates related to FOIL requests.
• Processes FOIL requests and appeals, monitors compliance of legal obligations, reviews records for responsiveness and lawful redaction, and drafts FOIL legal determinations.
• Coordinates with program offices and stakeholders in formulating responses.
• Communicates with the press, government officials, and other individuals on actual or potential requests, and coordinates press requests with the Office of Communications and/or other offices within the NYCPS.
• Makes recommendations to the General Counsel and/or designees regarding FOIL appeals.
• Acts as a liaison to the New York City Law Department with respect to FOIL-related litigation or directly supports and/or prepares drafts for litigation arising from FOIL.
• Handles other record requests on a special basis, including those involving challenging or complicated document retrieval issues, as well as requests requiring coordination among multiple offices or agencies.
• Responsible for data governance issues related to the FOIL Unit, including management of the FOIL Unit database and ensuring the quality of all database entries.
• Collaborates with the Deputy Counsel and/or designees on strategic initiatives involving FOIL Unit request processes, database enhancements, and workflow improvements.
• Prepares documents in response to subpoenas, court orders, etc.
• Appears in court, serves as attorney of record, drafts/files motions, oppositions, letters, etc. if needed.
• Communicates with NYCPS offices, schools, and/or external parties to ensure proper authorizations are obtained, or mandated notices are issued prior to compliance.
• Coordinates with the NYC Law Department on litigation strategy and discovery.
• May advise on record retention-related issues.
• Affords assistance with training and dissemination of best practice methods within the unit and across the agency.
• Maintains and troubleshoots e-discovery and other subpoena challenges.
• Trains staff and identifies best practices for e-discovery and case management.

Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar; and either 2 or 3 below:
• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar;
• Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Intern (30086).
• To be assigned to Level 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 Level III, candidates must have three years of progressively responsible United States legal experience subsequent admission to any state bar.
• Selected candidates must remain members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of their employment.
• Strong project management experience.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Ability to quickly grasp applicable law and regulations.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Strong legal research skills.
• Experience in FOIL and other related laws.
• Experience with Adobe Acrobat.
• Experience with document review software.

Salary

$106,607 - $111,107

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

Note: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

* New York City Residency is NOT Required *

We encourage all applicants from the New York City tri-state area to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer

DOE Non-Discrimination Policy

REQUESTING AN ACCOMMODATION - APPLICANTS

Public 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 https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.