Affirmative Litigation

The Affirmative Litigation Division offers attorneys the opportunity to engage in impactful public service on behalf of the City and its residents.  Division attorneys represent the City as plaintiff, including in high stakes cases, on important public health and safety issues, in significant policy matters with revenue or programmatic implications, and to enforce and ensure compliance with law.  Division lawyers handle all phases of litigation at the trial level, including case investigation, development and initiation, discovery, legal research and analysis, brief-writing, motion practice, court appearances, trials or hearings, and settlement negotiations.  Division attorneys appear in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, and they provide advice and counseling to City agencies and officials.  The Division handles a wide range of practice areas, including commercial disputes; securities litigation; hazardous product claims; civil racketeering, fraud and False Claims Act claims; public nuisance and restitution claims; code enforcement; tenant protection; intellectual property claims; civil rights claims; and administrative, regulatory, constitutional and other challenges to state and federal government actions affecting City funding and policy.

Information for Experienced Attorneys

The Division seeks attorneys with at least five years of civil litigation experience who demonstrate strong writing, research, analytical and oral communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment under tight time constraints.  We look for creative problem-solvers who have demonstrated initiative in pursuing complex litigation matters.  Experience in plaintiff’s side litigation is a plus.  Lateral attorneys in Affirmative Litigation handle all aspects of the cases they are assigned. More junior lateral attorneys can expect to handle smaller cases themselves, with supervision, while working with more senior attorneys on larger cases.

The Division also is currently expanding its Tenant Protection Unit, which focuses on litigation to protect tenants through enforcing the Building Code and other applicable law. The ideal candidate will have the required experience described above, in addition to significant experience litigating in NY Supreme Court and with complex multi-party matters. Housing Court experience is helpful, as is familiarity with State and City programs relating to affordable housing; some experience with data analysis and the use of Excel to organize and present data is preferred.  Attorneys will work independently on their cases while collaborating on a team with others who have similar caseloads.

What New Attorneys Do

New attorneys in the Affirmative Litigation Division, working with senior attorneys, handle all aspects of litigation brought in state and federal court on behalf of the City and related entities. New attorneys manage smaller cases themselves, with supervision, while playing a substantial role in larger cases managed by senior attorneys.

What Summer Interns Do

In the Affirmative Litigation Division, summer interns participate in matters reflecting the variety of the Division's caseload. Interns can expect to assist attorneys by drafting complaints and dispositive motion papers, researching and summarizing complex legal issues, and attending client meetings, negotiations and oral arguments. Representative projects from past summers include analyzing data and writing brief points for the City's litigation against illegal cigarette trafficking and research into the diverse areas of law including antitrust, tax-exempt status of foreign embassies, desegregation orders and insurance coverage. Interns will come away from the summer with hands-on legal experience and one or more substantive writing samples.

Read the Law Department's Annual Reports for More Information about the Affirmative Litigation Division