Admitted Attorneys Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out about available attorney positions?
How do I apply for a position?
What can I expect at the interview?
What do I need to bring to my interview?
Is there a mentor program for experienced attorneys?
What types of training and professional development programs are provided to attorneys?
Are experienced attorneys subject to the Law Department's three-year commitment requirement?
Is there a City residency requirement?
Is there a U.S. citizenship requirement?
Must applicants be admitted to the New York State bar?
What are the salary and benefits for a Law Department Attorney?
Does the Law Department permit transfers between divisions?

How do I find out about available attorney positions?
Vacancies for admitted attorneys are regularly posted on our website and on the City’s careers website. In addition, attorneys who would like to be notified as positions become available at the Law Department may input their contact information on our job notification listserv. The Law Department will retain email addresses for six months and will advise candidates of job postings during that time only. 


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How do I apply for an attorney position?
Applications should be submitted in response to advertised vacancies through the City's careers website. Cover letters should be addressed to:

Lillian Evans
Director of Legal Recruitment
New York City Law Department
100 Church Street
New York, NY 10007

Initial applications require only cover letters and resumes. Writing samples, transcripts and references may be requested later in the process.  Questions may be submitted to recruitment@law.nyc.gov.

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What can I expect at the interview?
Applicants will meet at least three attorneys from the division where they are interviewing. An applicant recommended for further interviews will meet with the Director of Legal Recruitment and the First Assistant Corporation Counsel on a subsequent date.

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What do I need to bring to my interview?
We recommend that you bring copies of your most up-to-date resume, writing samples, law school transcript, and list of references.  Please ensure your materials comply with the Law Department's application guidelines. 

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Is there a mentor program for experienced attorneys?
Attorneys hired laterally are assigned a mentor in their division.

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What types of training and professional development programs are provided to attorneys?
The professional development of our Assistant Corporation Counsels is a high priority. The Law Department is an accredited Continuing Legal Education provider and offers live and recorded courses free of charge to all its attorneys. The Law Department offers courses as diverse as its practice. The Law Department also allows attorneys to attend CLE programs at the Practicing Law Institute (PLI). Learn more about professional development at the Law Department.

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Are experienced attorneys subject to the Law Department's three-year commitment requirement?
Attorneys with fewer than three years of experience are required to commit to work at the Law Department for three years. Attorneys with more than three years of experience are required to make only a two-year commitment. These employment commitments give us the time to train our attorneys to take primary responsibility for important and complex cases.

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Is there a City residency requirement?
No.

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Is there a U.S. citizenship requirement?
No.

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Must applicants be admitted to the New York State bar?
Applicants must either be admitted or be eligible for admission without having to take an examination. That is, we can interview a candidate who has passed the New York State bar, and is awaiting admission, or who is eligible to waive into New York from another State.

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What are the salary and benefits for a Law Department Attorney?
Salary levels are commensurate with experience. Benefits offered to Law Department attorneys include:

• 18 days of annual leave
• 10 days of sick leave
• 11 paid holidays
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster care of a child
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life and long-term disability insurance
• Pre-tax health and dependent care spending programs
• Pre-tax "Transit Chek" programs
• Deferred compensation 401K plan
• Deferred compensation 457 plan
• Health club reimbursement
• Domestic partnership benefits
• New York City Employees Retirement System Pension

Find a full description of benefits.

Find information about the City's pension plan.

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Does the Law Department permit transfers between divisions?
An attorney with two or more years of service in a division may request a transfer to another division. Transfers are subject to the needs of the Law Department.

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