Legal Affairs
Associate Counsel
$96,000 to $102,000 a year
Posted until October 16, 2026 · posted September 16, 2026
Requirements
Other requirements
Exam
Non-competitive title
A job title where a competitive exam is not practical, so the agency checks that your qualifications meet the standard instead. You apply directly. On our job pages this shows as "No exam for this title".
From ≈ $46.15 an hour · $3,692 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).
NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $29.15/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.
What you'd have made
$3,680 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.
An hour of this job pays for about 15.3 subway rides ($3 fare).
Price anything in hours of this job
Overtime added $2,622 on average that year, and it isn't guaranteed. 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
- Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
- One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
- 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.
Read the rest of the requirements
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.
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.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD
The Campaign Finance Board is a nonpartisan, independent city agency that empowers New Yorkers to have a greater impact on their elections. Our mission is to make local democracy more open, transparent, and equitable by removing barriers to participation.
Read the rest, from the posting
We make it easier for New Yorkers to vote, meaningfully support candidates for city office, and run for office themselves. NYC Votes, our voter engagement initiative, meets people where they are to share trustworthy election information and help New Yorkers make a plan to vote.
We publish the citywide Voter Guide, which delivers information about candidates directly to voters’ doors.
Our public matching funds program ensures small contributions can make a big difference, allowing regular people to run for office by relying on the support of other regular people, not just wealthy donors and special interests.
And we lift the veil on how candidates raise and spend money, increasing transparency and accountability in local government.
We believe that when every New Yorker is empowered to participate meaningfully in elections, candidates will better reflect the communities they serve, elected leaders will be more accountable to the public, and New Yorkers will have a democracy they can truly trust.
ABOUT THE UNIT
The Legal unit's staff advise on campaign finance law, election law, employment and labor law, contracting and procurement law, conflict of interest laws, and litigation involving the CFB.¿ They engage in work including but not limited to administrative law enforcement, litigation, and policy development.
The unit serves as legal representation of the agency in litigation and employment matters, and as legal advisors supporting the agency’s programmatic work.
JOB DESCRIPTION
This role is primarily focused on enforcement of New York City’s campaign finance laws and rules, and includes opportunities for legal research, analysis, and writing related to the functions of the general counsel’s office.
The responsibilities and tasks to be completed in this role include, but are not limited to:
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Prosecuting enforcement actions against campaigns and independent spenders;
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Appear before the 5-member Campaign Finance Board regarding formal and informal complaints and/or investigations, which includes the review and analysis of all submissions by adversaries; draft administrative determinations; issue recommendations on civil penalties and other appropriate enforcement actions; meet and correspond with campaigns regarding enforcement matters;
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Representing the agency in administrative hearings, collection actions, and Article 78 proceedings;
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Drafting and analyzing rules, legislation, and advisory opinions;
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Conducting research and drafting memoranda in response to legal inquiries; and
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Providing legal counsel to the agency on matters relating to records retention, freedom of information, privacy and identifying information compliance, procurement and contracting procedures, and other areas of law as needed.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & OTHER BEHAVIORS (KSAOs)
We're seeking individuals eager to make an impact, even if they don't tick every box on our job description.
We believe in the power of diverse perspectives and the unique blend of lived experiences, non-traditional education pathways, practical know-how, and a variety of skills and abilities that each candidate brings to the table.
If you're ready to learn and grow with us, we encourage you to apply and be part of our dynamic team.
Knowledge
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Law degree and admission to the New York state bar required (candidates with pending admission status may be considered);
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One year of legal experience.
Skills
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Excellent legal research, legal writing, and analytical skills;
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Excellent oral communication and advocacy;
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Ability to multitask, organize, prioritize, and manage time effectively;
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Ability to engage with external parties in a professional and empathetic manner;
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Diligence and attention to detail;
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Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a small team.
Abilities
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Prosecute enforcement actions against campaigns and independent spenders;
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Make presentations before the 5-member Campaign Finance Board regarding formal and informal complaints and/or investigations, which includes the review and analysis of all submissions by adversaries; draft administrative determinations; issue recommendations on civil penalties and other appropriate enforcement actions; meet and correspond with campaigns regarding enforcement matters;
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Represent the agency in administrative hearings, collection actions, Article 78 proceedings, and other litigation matters as necessary;
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Draft and analyze rules, legislation, and advisory opinions;
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Conduct research and draft memoranda regarding the law and policy; and
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Provide legal counsel to the agency on matters relating to records retention, privacy and identifying information compliance, procurement and contracting procedures, employment law, freedom of information law, conflicts of interest, and other areas as necessary.
Other Characteristics
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Ability to present detailed legal arguments in an administrative hearing;
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Creativity, teamwork, and empathy;
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Demonstrated interest in public service and commitment to the CFB’s mission.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
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While completing the application, candidates are invited to provide a cover letter via “attachment” or the “Message to the Hiring Team” field on SmartRecruiters.
Skills they'd like
These are qualifications that would be helpful but are not essential to being successful in the role. Candidates with these qualifications will be given preference in the selection process.
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Experience in NYC government, election law, campaign finance or a related field;
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Experience in administrative law and/or regulatory enforcement;
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All the skills they list
Experience in legislation and regulation;
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
All applicants must apply through NYC Government Jobs
Explore Careers
City of New York
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Please search and apply to the job ID number listed above.
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Resume and cover letter are required for consideration.
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Note that only applicants under consideration will be contacted.
Read the rest
For more information on careers with the NYC Campaign Finance Board visit our website at https://www.nyccfb.info/ to access the full listing of job opportunities and to learn more about our agency.
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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