Legal Affairs
Assistant Corporation Counsel - Special Federal Litigation Division
$87,737 to $188,235 a year
Posted until November 15, 2026 · posted September 16, 2026
Requirements
Other requirements
Exam
Exempt title
A job, usually working closely with an agency head, where the agency sets the qualifications and picks who it hires. No civil service exam.
From ≈ $42.18 an hour · $3,375 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).
NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $25.18/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.
What you'd have made
$3,363 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.
An hour of this job pays for about 14 subway rides ($3 fare).
Price anything in hours of this job
Base salary of active employees paid a yearly rate, fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025). Source: NYC's payroll data
Check yourself
What they actually ask for.
Other requirements: read them on the posting
The Special Federal Litigation Division is dedicated to providing outstanding legal advocacy on behalf of the city. Accordingly, candidates must have at least two years of litigation experience after graduating from an ABA accredited law school.
Candidates must also be admitted to practice law in New York State and be admitted to or eligible for immediate admission to the SDNY and EDNY. Strong legal writing and oral advocacy skills are required.
Quoted word for word from the official posting. The label above is ours, read from this text; if they disagree, this text wins.
The work
What the job is.
-
Some remote work
“Work From Home Options Following orientation, attorneys may elect to participate in one of two remote work programs:”
Read from the posting. Tap one to see the line it came from.
The New York City Law Department is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel in its Special Federal Litigation Division.
The Special Federal Litigation Division manages a broad and complex docket of individual and class action matters that present significant constitutional and policy related questions, including novel and high profile issues arising under federal law.
Read the rest, from the posting
Attorneys in the Division represent the City in cases alleging violations of constitutional rights stemming from arrests, prosecutions, detention, and other governmental actions.
They conduct factual investigations, draft responsive pleadings, appear in federal court, manage extensive fact and expert discovery, take and defend depositions, draft and argue dispositive motions, engage in settlement negotiations, and serve as trial counsel when appropriate.
This position offers substantial experience in federal court practice and procedure, providing attorneys with opportunities to develop expert litigation skills while managing a diverse and sophisticated caseload. The role is particularly suited for attorneys seeking meaningful public service and a challenging, high level federal court practice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Salary Information The Law Department sets salaries for new attorneys based on their post law school legal experience, which typically aligns with their law school graduation year.
- For 0–5 years of legal experience: $ 87,737–$122,300
- For 5-10 years of legal experience: $122,300-137,188
- For 10-15 years of legal experience: $137,188-$159,521
- For 15-20 years of legal experience: $159,521-$180,791
- For 20+ years of legal experience: $180,791-$188,235
Candidates with highly specialized experience may qualify for salaries slightly above these ranges when a role requires such expertise or the position is considered hard to fill.
Work From Home Options Following orientation, attorneys may elect to participate in one of two remote work programs:
- Flexible Remote Work: Allows limited, irregular work from home days.
- Citywide Pilot Program: Allows attorneys to work remotely on two set days per week, subject to Division approval and staffing needs. Participants must maintain a single designated remote work location, and in person obligations take precedence over scheduled remote days. This pilot is currently being tested across City agencies and is not yet permanent.
Skills they'd like
Experience involving federal practice, municipal liability, constitutional law, or personal injury law.
Before you apply
The fine print.
Where you have to live
NYC residency not required
New York City Residency is not required for this position.
How to apply, from the posting
To apply, click the Apply Now button. Upload your cover letter and résumé together as one document under "cover letter." Upload your writing sample and a list of three professional references (with contact information) together as one document under "resume."
Sources
Straight from the city.
Updated every day from the city's job data (last city update September 21, 2026). You apply through the official posting.
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