Legal Affairs
Staff Counsel
$95,450 a year
Posted until November 2, 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".
≈ $45.89 an hour · $3,671 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).
NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $28.89/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.
What you'd have made
$3,659 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.
An hour of this job pays for about 15.2 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.
**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week or compressed work schedule,
pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program. **
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives
of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses nearly 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries
Read the rest, from the posting
and enforces key consumer protection and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses
through equitable enforcement and access to resources, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices
and strives to create a culture of compliance.
DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the
tools and resources they need to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and
advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information
about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(DCWP), sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
DCWP is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Staff Counsel in the General Counsel Division, to enforce
laws that protect NYC consumers and promote the Mayor’s affordability agenda. The Staff Counsel will be
responsible for initiating, investigating, and litigating cutting edge cases at the New York City Office of
Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and New York state court against individuals and businesses that
violate New York City’s licensing and consumer protection laws. Reporting to the Associate General Counsel, Staff
Counsel responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Investigating and prosecuting businesses engaged in illegal conduct, including those operating online and in
web-based industries;
- Identifying unlawful conduct for potential investigation and litigation, and effectively developing investigation
plans;
- Overseeing industry-specific regulatory compliance projects and rulemakings;
- Developing large scale regulatory enforcement plans;
- Performing legal research and drafting memorandum on legal issues facing the agency;
- Drafting general correspondence and legal documents to respondents, opposing counsel, regulated businesses,
consumers and others;
- Conducting depositions, engaging in settlement negotiations, and trying cases on behalf of the agency at New
York City’s administrative tribunal and state court;
- Drafting and negotiating settlement agreements of enforcement proceedings initiated by attorneys; and
- Participating in review of external-facing material for agency outreach and trainings for business and public
education.
The ideal candidate will be responsible for these functions, as well as for special projects and assignments related to
consumer or licensee issues or to DCWP’s operations.
In addition, as part of these functions, the Staff Counsel is
responsible for careful case project management and operational tasks necessary to support and effectuate this work.
Skills they'd like
- At least two years of litigation experience, including in New York State courts and at the New York City
Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH)
All the skills they list
- Demonstrated excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving and time management skills
- Interest in or experience in regulating online and technology-based products and services
- Proficient in conducting legal research and undertaking factual investigations, including experience reviewing documents and conducting witness interviews and depositions
- Demonstrated excellent legal research and writing skills, with the ability to present clearly organized and structured written work product
- Comfort with data-driven analysis and strategic planning
- Attention to detail, and ability to receive feedback and adjust to grow skillsets
- Able to interact effectively with multi-functional teams comprised of attorney and non-attorney staff
- Able to effectively manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines
- Desire to develop investigative, writing and litigation skills, with a desire to receive coaching and ability to receive feedback
- References that can confirm legal skills
- Experience and knowledge in consumer protection laws, administrative law, and/or false advertising
litigation is preferred, but not required
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 for this position, please submit your application exclusively through the Jobs NYC website. Only
applications submitted via the Jobs NYC platform will be considered for review. The Job ID is located at the bottom
of the page.
Read the rest
A resume and cover letter are required as part of the application. In your cover letter, please include the following:
- Civil service title you currently hold or whether you have taken any civil service exams (if applicable).
- The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is committed to building a diverse and
inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage 55-a candidates to apply.
If eligible, please indicate this in your cover letter.
Incomplete applications or those missing the required documents will not be considered.
Reasonable Accommodations
DCWP is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal
access to employment opportunities. If you need an accommodation to participate in the interview process, please
contact us at [email protected].
Please note the following important application instructions:
- No phone calls, faxes, emails, or in-person inquiries will be accepted.
- Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. If you do not receive communication
from us, please consider your application as not being selected for this position.
- Drug Screening: Please be aware that a drug screening may be required prior to appointment. Candidates
will be notified if this is necessary as part of the pre-employment process.
Appointments are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.
For any questions or concerns regarding your application, please email the recruitment team at
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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