Legal Affairs
Legal Counsel
$92,525 to $136,593 a year
Posted until October 3, 2026 · posted September 3, 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 ≈ $44.48 an hour · $3,559 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).
NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $27.48/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.
What you'd have made
$3,546 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.
An hour of this job pays for about 14.8 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.
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Weekends
“Provide a legal opinion on a broad array of practices, policies, and procedures related to care and custody of juvenile justice-involved youth, including providing legal guidance on nights/weekends when necessary.”
Read from the posting. Tap one to see the line it came from.
THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $92,525.00 - $106,404.00.
The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services, and provides subsidized child care vouchers.
Read the rest, from the posting
ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community.
The Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ) provides a wide range of services and programs for youth at every stage of the juvenile justice process.
Our goals are to (a) build stronger and safer communities and advance public safety by preventing juveniles from entering the New York City's juvenile justice system, (b) provide therapeutic treatment and services to youth in our custodial care, and (c) help juveniles access the tools they need to leave the justice system for good.
We strive to help families and young people by providing supportive services that are responsive to the needs of individual youth and families.
The Policy, Legal and Compliance Unit was created in October 2020 to codify these important functions into a single program unit and increase the level of integration between these closely connected areas of practice within DYFJ.
Our legal team serves as a liaison to the city courts, law enforcement, legal advocates and our own Office of General Counsel and provides legal-guidance, division-wide on issues that arise from the custody of juvenile justice-involved youth in our care.
Our Compliance team was created in response to the increased oversight of our detention facilities and serves as point for all oversight, reporting and compliance activities, including Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliance.
Our Policy team develops and updates the 100+ policies that guide DYFJ's practice including those critical for the operation of our detention and placement facilities.
The Legal Counsel will be responsible for performing the following duties but not limited to:
- Respond to challenging and urgent legal concerns and issues raised by ACS staff and external entities.
- Provide a legal opinion on a broad array of practices, policies, and procedures related to care and custody of juvenile justice-involved youth, including providing legal guidance on nights/weekends when necessary.
- Act as liaison between DYFJ and Family Court Legal Services (FCLS) to draft and ensure appropriate court documents are filed timely, and appear in Family, Supreme and other NYC courts (if necessary) to represent DYFJ in matters related to custody of detained and/or placed youth.
- Conduct research and provide legal guidance in the development of DYFJ policies and protocols.
- Respond to subpoenas on behalf of the Agency for current and former DYFJ youths’ records and redacting information as required pursuant to relevant confidentiality laws.
- Attend meetings and provide legal technical assistance on matters spanning the spectrum of juvenile justice.
- Represent DYFJ’s interests and work with ACS’ Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in determining the impact and implications of proposed legislation on the divisions' operations and practices.
- Act as liaison between DYFJ and ACS’ Office of the General Counsel on various matters related to employment issues, confidentiality agreements, and records production.
- Liaise with FCLS on various legal issues, including timely remand modifications, aftercare revocations and extensions of placement as necessary.
- Assist executive staff with the development and drafting of key program materials, procedures, documents, plans, and reports.
- Provide other legal guidance to DYFJ staff as necessary.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This position has been reposted. Previous applicants do not need to reapply.
Section 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.
The Administration for Children’s Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing access to all individuals. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Simone Campbell at [email protected] or 212-676-6955.
TO APPLY
Please go to www.cityjobs.nyc.gov or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID #726659.
No phone calls, faxes or personal inquiries permitted.
Note: Only candidates under consideration will be contacted.
Skills they'd like
The preferred candidate should possess the following:
- A strong background in the Family Court Act (particularly Article 3) along with Juvenile/Adolescent Offender proceedings, Social Services Law, litigation, Family Court and Criminal/Supreme Court adolescent proceedings.
- Familiarity with various NYC prosecutorial and legal defense organizations.
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of the Agency’s records.
- Ability to teach and train.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with diverse constituencies at all levels of an organization.
- Previous experience in a District Attorney’s office or in legal defense of youth in adolescent criminal proceedings in Supreme Court strongly preferred.
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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