Legal Affairs
Senior Counsel, Policy
$68,213 to $135,000 a year
Posted until October 23, 2026 · posted August 24, 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 ≈ $32.79 an hour · $2,624 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).
NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $15.79/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.
What you'd have made
$2,615 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.
An hour of this job pays for about 10.9 subway rides ($3 fare).
Price anything in hours of this job
Overtime added $27 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 four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.
Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.
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 OFFICE: The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) advises the Mayor of the City of New York on criminal justice policy. MOCJ develops and implements strategies, with partners inside and outside government, to reduce crime and incarceration and to promote fairness and legitimacy.
Read the rest, from the posting
MOCJ works with law enforcement, city agencies, non-profits, foundations, and others to implement data-driven strategies that address current crime conditions, prevent offending, and build the strong neighborhoods that ensure enduring safety.
ABOUT THE ROLE: Reporting to the Deputy Director for Policy & Justice Operations, the Senior Counsel will provide legal, policy, strategic, and operational guidance on MOCJ initiatives and programs.
The Senior Counsel must be a highly effective self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
The role requires the ability to identify challenges within the criminal justice system, develop practical solutions, anticipate legal and operational risks, and build stakeholder consensus to advance Administration priorities and improve the efficiency and fairness of New York City’s criminal justice system.
The Senior Counsel responsibilities include but are not limited to:
-Evaluate legal, policy, and operational issues affecting MOCJ, the City, and the public, including potential benefits, risks, and unintended consequence. -Analyze pending criminal justice legislation, including its feasibility, impact on City agencies and the public, potential unintended consequences, and opportunities for misuse. -Lead and support the development and operationalization of criminal justice initiatives and programs aligned with the Administration’s agenda. -Support the Deputy Director for Policy & Justice Operations and First Deputy Director in coordinating with criminal justice agencies and stakeholders, including District Attorneys, indigent defense providers, the Department of Correction, the Department of Probation, and other partners necessary to implement citywide solutions. -Analyze criminal case-processing and crime data, including arrests, detention, and pending criminal court cases, to inform strategies that improve case processing and public safety. -Provide senior-level legal, strategic, and operational support across MOCJ portfolios, particularly on complex, time-sensitive, or politically sensitive matters. -Research, develop, manage, and execute policy projects independently and collaboratively. -Develop and maintain productive relationships with institutional and government stakeholders. -Perform other responsibilities as assigned based on team and agency needs.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER SPECIFIC TO THIS ROLE
Skills they'd like
-Deep knowledge of the operations of New York City Criminal Court and New York State Supreme Court, Criminal Term, across the five boroughs.
-Seven or more years of experience prosecuting or defending criminal or juvenile delinquency matters or serving as a court attorney in New York City.
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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