Legal Coordinator

  • Full-time
  • Agency: DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION
  • Job Category: Legal Affairs

Job Description

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts.

The New York City Department of Correction seeks to recruit Legal Coordinators for the Office of Trials & Litigation, whose tasks will include but are not limited to the following:

- Maintaining and updating electronic and hard-copy case files, including monitoring
case status and coordinating the various stages of litigation;
- Preparing, reviewing, filing, and processing documents including: disciplinary charges,
discovery, case closing packages, and notices to appear for compelled proceedings or for
conferences or trials at the Office of Administrative Trials & Hearings (“OATH”);
- Conferring with Department attorneys, opposing counsel and OATH personnel in
preparation for trial or pre-trial conferences;
- Performing discovery review, redactions, and production to opposing counsel;
- Performing legal research under guidance of an attorney;
- Some physical activity may be required, including lifting and/or carrying boxes and/or files,
climbing stairs and travel by public transportation;
- Collecting, assembling, and assisting in evaluating evidence and technical data for use
in trials and proceedings;
- Providing support for special projects and initiatives when necessary.

Qualifications

1. A law degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and six months of full time satisfactory experience providing legal services assistance to defendants, offenders, ex-offenders or plaintiffs; or

3. An associate degree from an accredited college or university or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college or university and two years of full time satisfactory experience as described in "2" above; or

4. A satisfactory combination of education and experience which is equivalent to "2"or "3" above. College credit may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university for 9 months of experience. Paralegal certification obtained from an accredited program or from a program approved by the American Bar Association can be substituted for an associate degree and 6 months of experience.

However, to satisfy the education requirement and qualify under this section "4", candidates must have at least an associate degree, 60 semester credits or paralegal certification. The amount of experience required to qualify under this section "4" depends upon the candidate's education; however, no candidate may qualify under this section "4" with less than 6 months
of full time satisfactory experience as described in"2"above.

Experience in providing legal services assistance to defendants, offenders, ex-offenders or plaintiffs must have included both
a. Obtaining legal information through the use of United States Federal, State and local Statutes, Reporters, Digests, and Shepard' Citations; and
b. The preparation and filing of writs and motions with various United States Federal, State and local courts of record.

Additional Information

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.

Privacy Policy