Assistant General Counsel - Legal Affairs

Job Description

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and assistance to the entire agency. Specifically, OGC works to ensure that the innovative programs and initiatives of DOHMH are supported by a dedicated legal team. The OGC team is comprised of attorneys who work in a variety of areas, including legal affairs (legal and policy analysis; health code enforcement; records access), contracts, privacy, and employment law.

OGC also houses the Institutional Review Board and attorneys working in the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

• Exercise a wide latitude of legal knowledge and judgement.
• Litigate complex and significant cases at OATH, as needed.
• Conduct legal research and draft written analyses as needed, often on a time‑sensitive basis.
• Draft important and complex legal statements and provide recommendations on questions of law and public health and/or administrative policy.
• Draft amendments to the NYC Health Code and Commissioner of Health regulations.
• Draft legal documents including Orders of the Commissioner, as well as varied types of agreements, contracts, and/or memoranda of understanding.
• Assist in compiling and reviewing records in response to complex Freedom of Information Law requests, including large‑scale eDiscovery projects.
• Maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Manage and distribute information accurately and appropriately.
• Monitor the workflow, ensuring compliance with deadlines, and preparing reports and summaries.
• Establish positive working relationships with co‑workers and programs.
• Possess excellent research and writing skills.
• Attend to other ad hoc projects and tasks, as needed or assigned.

• 3 years of professional experience as an attorney after admission to the NYS bar.
• Highly detail‑oriented with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Ability to use online legal research platforms such as Westlaw, CLEAR, and Lexis Nexis.
• Current working knowledge of Health Department procedures, policies and practices is a plus.
• Current experience in or knowledge and interest in Freedom of Information Law requests, Privacy Issues, Day Care and Restaurant Enforcement and other public health matters is a plus.

• Loan Forgiveness:
  As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).).
• Benefits:
  City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
  • Premium‑free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
  • Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
  • A public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
  • A tax‑deferred savings program.
  • A robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
• Work From Home Policy:
  Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
• Job Security:
  You could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health.

We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti‑tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and…