Supervising Attorney

Minimum Qualifications One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title or in a title eligible for 52.6 transfer.
This position may be designated 55 b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility.

Duties Description
Supervise and manage the work of Associate and Senior Attorneys and other staff in the agencys legal office or bureau; provides expert legal advice and opinions to management and staff.

Advise Counsels Office on matters that fall within his/her area of professional expertise, including the interpretation and implementation of State and Federal legislation; court decisions; and agency policies.

Supervise one or more bureaus, each of which is generally staffed by one or more Associate Attorneys who function as the bureau head, and several Senior Attorneys and support staff. Supervisory responsibilities include reviewing the written work product of the Associate Attorneys and Senior Attorneys to confirm that it meets the Division of Legal Affairs standard. This work product consists of advisory opinions, forms, policies, memoranda, correspondence, and other documents.

Develop and implement training for the attorneys and staff who report to the Supervising Attorney.

Oversee all hearings and other court appearances by Associate Attorneys and Senior Attorneys, including assigning cases; scheduling court appearances; and, monitoring attorney attendance and performance at administrative and court appearances.

Exercise responsibility for all personnel-related matters that involve his/her staff. These matters include, but are not limited to, candidate selection, hiring, performance evaluation, discipline, work schedules, leave requests, and reasonable accommodation requests.

Advise the Deputy General Counsel about proposed legislation, and rules and regulations related to the mission of OCFS. Providing this advice requires the Supervising Attorney to prepare supporting memoranda; evaluate bills introduced into the Senate and/or Assembly; identify how these bills might affect the agencys operations and programs; and draft and revise proposed legislation, rules, regulations and policies.

Guide and direct the attorneys under his/her supervision in litigation that involves OCFS. This includes, but is not limited to, overseeing trial and settlement strategy; communicating with outside attorneys, witnesses, and experts during the conduct of litigation; and representing the agency in legal proceedings, when necessary.

Participate in meetings and telephone conferences with the Governors staff, OCFS Executive staff, staff in Counsels Office, and other parties.

Additional duties will be discussed in greater detail during the interview.

Additional Comments Background Investigation Requirements:

1) All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointees employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees.

2) All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.

3) For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.