General Counsel - job 1 of 4

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.

Our core purpose is to protect public health and serve impartial justice through forensic science and medicine. We exist to provide answers in support of families and communities during times of profound need.

The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.

Commitment: Dedicated to the mission at all times
Accountability: Responsible to each other and the community
Resilience: Adapt in the face of adversity
Excellence: Achieve and maintain the highest quality
Service: Innovate to meet evolving needs


JOB DESCRIPTION

Under executive direction, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) seeks a highly motivated individual to serve as the agency’s chief legal advisor. This position administratively reports to the Chief Operating Officer and functions under a dual reporting structure to the City’s Law Department (Corporation Counsel). The individual will primarily advise the Chief Medical Examiner, Chief Operating Officer, and other executive staff on all matters concerning New York City laws, rules, and regulations as they pertain to government operations. The selected candidate will exercise legal expertise and sound judgment in overseeing a legal function with significant policy and financial implications. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Serve as legal counselor to the Chief Medical Examiner, Chief Operating Officer, executive leadership, managerial staff, and other agency personnel.
- As a member of the agency’s Executive Leadership Team, collaborates with executive leadership to develop and implement strategic goals, policies, and procedures that align with OCME’s mission, while contributing to long-term planning and decision-making.
- Assists the New York City Law Department in litigating lawsuits brought against the agency, including complex and high-profile matters involving intricate determinations of law and fact.
- Drafts legislation and policy statements of significance to the agency and advises on the impact of proposed and enacted legislation affecting OCME.
- Reviews, prepares, and negotiates complex procurement and other contracts on behalf of the agency.
-Develops and reviews agency and administrative policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and best practices.
- Manages a team of attorneys and support staff, including reviewing, revising, and approving materials related to civil or criminal matters, subpoenas, Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests, and expert forensic science testimony.
- Supervises the agency’s Director of Quality Assurance and provides oversight of quality-related matters.
- Supervises the Director of Records and oversees the operations of the agency’s Records Department.
- Serves as liaison to relevant City agencies, including district attorneys’ offices, criminal defense organizations, the judiciary, oversight agencies such as the New York State Commission on Forensic Science, and legislative bodies at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Special projects and other duties as assigned.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.