City of New York

Managing Attorney for the Housing Litigation Division (HLD

City of New York  •  New York City, NY (Onsite)  •  4 hours ago
Apply
AI can make mistakes so check important info. Chat history is never stored.

Job Description

About the Agency:

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) oversees housing standards across all 3.7 million homes in New York City.

As the nation’s largest municipal housing agency, HPD is responsible for building and preserving affordable housing, protecting tenants from harassment and displacement, and holding landlords accountable across the five boroughs. Under Commissioner Dina Levy and the Mamdani Administration, HPD is pursuing an ambitious housing agenda focused on the needs of New York’s tenants. With a broad set of tools including standards enforcement, tenant resources, and the creation of new affordable housing, HPD is committed to making New York City a more affordable place for renters and homeowners alike.

Your Team:

The Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) leads the agency’s effort to work closely with other HPD divisions and outside community partners to identify buildings in distress, assess and develop appropriate strategies to address those properties and work closely with responsible owners to develop a plan to improve conditions and return buildings to firm financial footing and physical health. OENS uses enforcement tools within its Division of Code Enforcement, Housing Litigation Division, Emergency Operations and Enhanced Enforcement, and the Division of Neighborhood Preservation to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.

The Office of Enforcement of Neighborhood Services is composed of seven divisions: Data Management & Technology (DMT), Division of Neighborhood Preservation (DNP), Administration & Internal Compliance (AIC), Housing Litigation Division (HLD), Division of Code Enforcement (DCE), Emergency Operations and Enhanced Enforcement Division (EOD)

and Division of Emergency Housing Services (EHS).

Your Impact:

The Housing Litigation Division (HLD) initiates litigation against property owners in Housing Court to ensure compliance with housing standards contained in the New York City Housing Maintenance Code and New York State Multiple Dwelling Law. HLD seeks orders to correct violations, civil penalties, access warrants, the appointment of 7-a Administrators, and is a statutory party in tenant-initiated proceedings.

The Anti-Harassment Unit (AHU) is a unit in HLD that focuses on building conditions related to tenant harassment, and construction-related harassment. AHU analyzes data to identify buildings and portfolios of buildings where harassment is occurring or likely to occur. AHU engages with tenants and communities through its enforcement efforts to address harassment, which include field inspections, research, and litigation, where warranted.

Your Role:

As an Agency Attorney L3, Managing Attorney, for the AHU under the direction of the Assistant Commissioner and/or Supervising Attorney in the AHU, the selected candidate’s responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Your responsibilities:

  • Serving as a Senior Staff Attorney litigating cases on behalf of HPD’s Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) to enforce the NYC Housing Maintenance Code and NYS Multiple Dwelling Law in the Housing Part of New York City Civil Court and on occasion in NYS Supreme court;
  • Litigating complex cases and handling matters having significant financial, procedural and policy consequences involving issues involving housing maintenance and tenant harassment;
  • Executing difficult and involved negotiations on behalf of the agency, including conferencing disputes between landlords and tenants regarding housing maintenance and tenant harassment;
  • Preparing and reviewing complex briefs, motions, legal opinions, affidavits and other legal papers related to housing code violations;
  • Preparing for and conducting trials and other hearings, including interviewing potential witnesses, preparing testimony, and gathering documentary evidence;
  • Reviewing and assessing cases on merit and preparing memoranda with recommendations;
  • Assisting Supervising Attorney with administrative work for the unit;
  • Supervising attorneys, including but not limited to reviewing, revising and approving agreements, advising and assisting with identifying and commencing harassment cases and supporting attorneys conducting trials involving tenant harassment;
  • Advising on legal aspects of enforcement and administration of acts, rules, laws and regulations.
  • Working closely with the AHU team to identify potential targets for litigation.

Preferred Skills

  • Experience litigating complex cases involving housing maintenance issues.
  • Experience litigating issues involving tenant harassment.
  • Possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as proficiency with PC software such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
  • Knowledge of the various HPD’s internal databases, including but not limited to: HLD’s Litigation Management System (LMS) and HPDINFO.

Requirements

  • Admission to the New York State Bar.
  • Three years of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar.
  • Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087

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 (30086).

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.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

City of New York

About City of New York

The City of New York is the most iconic and dynamic city on the planet. With a population of more than 8.4 million people, New York is not only the largest city in the United States — it is the academic, cultural, commercial, and financial capital of the world.

City government is filled with opportunities for talented individuals seeking to improve their communities and make a meaningful difference in the lives of their fellow New Yorkers. Every day, the City’s more than 300,000 employees improve infrastructure, provide vital social services, build technology, protect health and safety, and so much more. Join us today at: http://www1.nyc.gov/jobs

The City of New York offers its employees:

• A chance to build the future of this city. New York City government is at the crossroads of where policy, great ideas, city services, and smart urban planning meet the lives and needs of every day New Yorkers.

• Competitive salary and benefits. Hiring packages include a competitive salary, health benefits, various pension plans, employee assistance programs, and individual retirement accounts.

• Diverse career opportunities. As the largest local government in the United States with more than 40 agencies, the City of New York offers a broad spectrum of opportunities — from education, housing development, and public health to sustainability, economic growth, technology, and emergency management.

• Career Satisfaction. As a City employee, you will have the chance to shape the future of New York City and improve the quality of life for your family, neighbors, and fellow New Yorkers.

• Equal Opportunity and Inclusion. The City of New York is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discriminatory action against City employees and applicants for employment based on their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity alienage, citizenship status, gender, religion, creed and all other protected categories.

Industry
Government & Public Safety
Company Size
5,001-10,000 employees
Headquarters
New York, New York
Year Founded
1898
Website
nyc.gov
Social Media