Job Description

Posting number: POSTING

Department: LAW

Job classification: ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL II

Posting type: Non-Competitive

Categories: Legal

Summary

The Assistant Corporation Counsel II provides legal assistance and support to city departments or authorities within city government by analyzing legal opinions, briefs and other materials, preparing memoranda of law and conferring with governmental personnel or parties to legal actions in order to mediate, negotiate or set the legal issues. Incumbents, who must have been admitted to the New York State Bar, perform a wide range of assignments and tasks. The Assistant Corporation Counsel II presents and argues legal issues with governmental personnel, other attorneys and/or parties to legal disputes. Although these presentations vary by degree of complexity and formality, they usually involve case preparation and formulation of persuasive argument. In addition, the incumbent prepares detailed, accurate and convincing legal memoranda accompanied by appropriate citations in support of actions taken by department heads. Incumbents to positions in this class independently plan, organize and conduct reviews and analyses on day-to-day legal problems, cases and legislative proposals. Completed work is expected to be accurate with regard to legal citations and the technical treatment of facts and legal precedents. Work is reviewed for soundness of approach, proper application of legal principles and consistency with governing policies, procedures and regulations of said department. Incumbents are employed in a confidential relationship to the Corporation Counsel and Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel and receives general supervision from them.

Examples of duties

Acts as Assistant General Counsel for a large city department, board, authority or a group of smaller such entities;

provides legal advice and opinions to staff, complainants and others in connection with the activities and services provided by said departments;
conducts legal research of statutes, decisions, opinions and other legal sources in order to respond, both orally and in writing, to requests for legal decisions and opinions;
researches requests and inquiries from department staff and prepares legal decisions and opinions and consults with department personnel regularly;
interprets pertinent laws, rules, regulations, procedures, etc.

Prepares and presents arguments at judicial and administrative proceedings and presides at hearings and proceedings, and prepares findings, orders or decisions in an area ranging from employee disciplinary actions, to compliance with statutory regulations, to defense of claims against the City of Buffalo or its related agencies;

Tries court cases and proceedings at all Federal and State Judicial levels by preparing opening statements and summations, arguing motions, examining witnesses, consulting with parties to the proceeding, examining evidence, preparing briefs, negotiating settlements, preparing appeals and advising superiors;

Prepares drafts of state and local laws, city and ordinances and council resolutions;

submits for review and advises departments on the effects of said legislation;
recommends technical corrections and amendments to existing laws;
follows-up all legislation introduced on behalf of the City of Buffalo with the Governor's Office and legislative leaders for introduction;

Negotiates and prepares various legal documents, i.e., contracts, deeds and leases with outside parties;

reviews documents for legal sufficiency;
prepares legal documents, i.e., contracts, agreements, mortgages, and other legal instruments;

Prepares the necessary legal papers to enforce laws, rules, and regulations for services rendered by departments and reviews claims and approves payments;

determines violations of laws, rules etc. or is advised of such violations;
prepares appropriate legal documents to enforce laws, rules, etc;
processes court orders and prepares and presents cases at proceedings concerning such actions;
evaluates and negotiates amount of settlements with parties concerned;

Performs other and above legal services as deemed necessary by the Corporation Counsel/Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Good knowledge of municipal law in the State of New York;

Good knowledge of the laws governing civil and criminal practice and procedures, administrative law and supporting rules, regulations, legal terminology and forms;

Good knowledge of techniques employed in preparing legal memoranda, conducting legal research and analyzing legal problems;

Working knowledge of trial techniques and investigative and interviewing techniques;

Working knowledge of techniques of extracting information from others including reluctant witnesses;

Ability to organize large volume of factual and legal data into clear and logical sequences;

Ability to analyze legal issues and identify significant cases, opinions and facts;

Ability to both orally and in written form convince others of the legality of a specific action or point of view;

Ability to establish a working rapport with others both in the legal profession and layman;

Ability to interpret laws, rules and regulations;

Ability to apply specific techniques of gathering information and presenting it in a convincing manner;

Ability to communicate information clearly and succinctly in both oral and written form;

Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

Qualifications

Juris Doctor Degree from a Law School of recognized standing and one year of full time experience as a practicing Attorney or two years of full-time experience as a Law Clerk in the Judicial System, Law Office or Law Firm.

A license to practice as an Attorney and Counselor for the Courts of the State of New York. (The Degree and License must be presented at time of filing application.)

Supplemental information