Legal Affairs
Assistant Corporation Counsel, Tort Division
$87,737 to $188,235 a year
Posted until October 19, 2026 · posted August 26, 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 Tort Division is dedicated to providing outstanding legal advocacy on behalf of the city. Accordingly, applicants must have one year of civil litigation experience after graduating from an ABA-accredited law school. Applicants must also be admitted and in good standing with the New York State Bar.
Strong interpersonal and communication abilities are essential, as the role involves frequent interaction with City employees, agency representatives, opposing counsel, and colleagues across the Law Department.
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 Tort Division. The Tort Division represents the City, its agencies, and its employees—when acting within the scope of their duties—in all tort claims brought in State court.
Read the rest, from the posting
The Division manages a high-volume caseload through thorough investigation, vigorous defense, and, when appropriate, settlement or trial.
Attorneys in the Division’s city-wide Borough Units conduct statutory hearings and depositions; draft pleadings, motions (affirmative and responsive), and discovery responses; and manage document discovery.
Attorneys also appear for preliminary, compliance, settlement, and TAP conferences, as well as oral argument on motions.
In addition, attorneys participate in the Division’s trial rotation program and second-chair opportunities, which involve investigating and preparing all aspects of trial, performing factual and legal research, securing evidence, developing trial strategy, interviewing and preparing witnesses, drafting motions, jury charges, trial and post-trial submissions, and negotiating settlements.
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.
To apply, click the Apply Now button. Upload your cover letter and resume 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."
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.
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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