NYCHA's Law Department operates and oversees the Robert L. Doan Honors Program, which consists of two separate programs: a two-year placement for new law school graduates at an annual salary of approximately $59,246, subject to collective bargaining increases; and a summer internship for law students at an expected salary of $481 per week. NYCHA also offers an unpaid summer transactional internship for law students that, depending on the law school, may be eligible for weekly federal work-study stipends, not funded by or through this agency.

The Robert L. Doan Honors Program offers selected law graduates and law students the unique opportunity to practice in litigation and transactional areas, and to work on a variety of important projects under the direction of seasoned attorneys. Typical litigation assignments involve engaging in motion practice and arguing in court to defend appeals of administrative determinations, handling administrative hearings concerning tenancy and employee disciplinary issues, responding to discrimination investigations, and researching housing and employment policies. The Honors Program also exposes law graduates and students to contracts and real estate law.

As opposed to the Honors Program interns, summer transactional interns have the unique opportunity to intensely concentrate in transactional work, such as assisting with the Law Department's real estate practice and development work; handling matters involving the procurement, award and administration of contracts, and related dispute resolution; and drafting and reviewing contracts and amendments in, among other areas, construction law and intellectual property.

Working in a very collegial and supportive work environment, both law graduates and student interns will be expected to manage their own matters and will have the opportunity to hone their drafting, research, communication and analytical skills. During the summer months, the Law Department provides a series of training sessions on various legal topics relevant to the practice of law at NYCHA. With a professional and administrative support staff of approximately 195, the Law Department provides virtually all legal services required by NYCHA in the accomplishment of its mission. The Department has discrete units that handle appeals, contracts and corporate affairs, commercial litigation, discrimination complaints, employee discipline cases, landlord/tenant cases, public information requests, real estate and development matters, administrative tenant hearings, and tort cases, and has specialists in labor and employment law and health, safety and environmental affairs.

The Law Department is no longer accepting applications for the summer 2009 Robert L. Doan Honors Program for summer interns or the fall 2009 Robert L. Doan Honors Program for new law graduates. Students interested in applying for the 2010 summer or fall Honors Programs who attend Benjamin Cardozo Law School, Brooklyn Law School, Fordham Law School, New York University Law School, or St. John's University School of Law must apply through the on-campus interview program at their school. Students at other schools may apply by submitting a cover letter, indicating the program for which they are applying and explaining their interest, together with a resume, two writing samples and a current law school transcript to:

Renu P. Pani
Assistant Chief, Contracts Division/Honors and
Summer Internship Program Coordinator
New York City Housing Authority Law Department
250 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10007

Applications for the 2010 Robert L. Doan Honors Programs for new law graduates and summer interns must be received by September 18, 2009.

The Law Department is no longer accepting applications for the summer 2009 transactional internship program.  Law students interested in the 2010 transactional internship program are encouraged to apply via the NYU Public Interest Legal Career Fair to be held on February 4-5, 2010. Those unable to attend the NYU Public Interest Legal Career Fair may apply by submitting a cover letter, indicating they are applying for the 2009 unpaid transactional internship program and explaining their interest, together with a resume, two writing samples and a current law school transcript to the name and address above.

Applications for the 2010 unpaid transactional internship program must be received no later than February 4, 2010.