Assistant General Counsel

The core values of the OCME are to put the mission of the agency first, to be truly dedicated and to have integrity in every aspect of our professional life.

Under the direction of the Executive Agency Attorney, with latitude for independent judgment and unreviewed action and decision, the selected candidate will have duties which include, but are not limited to :

• Assist Agency personnel with legal aspects of areas of responsibility and resolve day to day Agency issues.
• Advise the Chief of laboratories, the General Counsel, and other Executive Staff regarding legal issues concerning the OCME laboratories.
• Assist and supervise highly technical litigation discovery responses for OCME Laboratories.
• Assist in compliance with subpoenas and court orders served upon the Agency.
• Assist with the review and processing of Freedom of Information Act requests
• Assist in the conduct of internal investigations and advise human resources on employment related matters affecting agency workforce
• Resolve legal issues involving forensic analysis in OCME laboratories, quality assurance, laboratory protocols, and the retention of forensic samples.

Coordinate Agency response regarding legal compliance of CODIS and LDIS DNA Database.

• Draft, review, and edit Non Disclosure Agreements, Data Sharing Agreements, and Beta Testing pertaining to OCME laboratories, as well as contract specifications for specialized laboratory services.
• Enhance an agency-wide witness training program for staff, including employees of the labs and forensic pathology.
• Review all research projects, surveillance studies, and human subject research submissions involving the Agency. Coordinate as needed with DOHMH Institutional Review Board
• Review and analyze local, state, and federal law and legislative recommendations and proposals related to forensic science and subject matters which may impact the Agency.
• As needed, assist with resolution of Dispute cases where intervention by the Legal Department is necessary. Communicate with next of kin, otherwise authorized persons, attorney, and / or estate administrators, as necessary, in communicating Agency requirements in resolving dispute cases.
• Assist with coordinating Agency actions related to paternity requests, tissue specimen hold requests, and release of tissue specimens
• As needed, coordinate Agency outreach to the City’s Conflict of Interest Board.
• Assist with Agency actions regarding regulation and management of DNA sample collection consent forms for OCME and non OCME personnel
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.

2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or

3. Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne .

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements :

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

• Experience with DNA analysis, scientific laboratory procedures, confidentiality of DNA profiles and information, and criminal prosecution / defense.
• Experience with labor and employment or human resource matters.-Three to five years of legal experience

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 class "jobad-residencyRequirement">

Residency RequirementNew York City residency is required within 90 days of appointment. However, City employees in certain titles who have worked for the City two continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland or Orange County.