Legal Services Senior Field Counsel

Closing Date: 30th June, 2024

Description:

Position Summary: The Legal Services Senior Field Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice, guidance, and training to school- and district-based staff on issues relating to federal, state, and local legal requirements and Department of Education (DOE) regulations and policies. Performs related work.

Reports to: Director, Senior Field Counsel

Direct Reports: Co-supervises disciplinary investigator

Responsibilities:

• Works collaboratively with superintendents, principals, and central legal team to support efficient, systematic, and legally and educationally sound service delivery in schools.
• Serves as a liaison between central and field offices to resolve and respond to complex legal issues in schools and school districts.
• Serves as a liaison to the New York City Law Department, and units within DOE's Office of the General Counsel in connection with legal proceedings.
• In consultation with the Press Office and Senior Field Counsel Director, drafts and reviews correspondence and communications to the public on behalf of school administrators.
• Responds to inquiries on a wide array of legal issues, including as related to labor and employment, privacy and student records, student health and safety, education law, civil rights, compliance with laws and regulations, and implementation of DOE rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Reviews school-based investigations conducted by school administrators.
• Serves as the on-site point of contact on legal issues for principals and district staff; works collaboratively to provide consistent and prompt legal advice to support schools and administrators.
• Conducts on-site training regarding Chancellor's Regulations and relevant legal requirements.
• Reviews proposed disciplinary matters and ensures compliance with relevant procedures.
• Consults on student discipline matters; may prepare suspension appeal decisions.
• May investigate and prepare responses to complaints of discrimination filed with administrative agencies.
• Reviews and makes appearances on small claims cases.
• Responds to Freedom of Information Law and subpoena requests.

Qualification Requirements:
Minimum:
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, of which eighteen months must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing complex legal work.

Applicants who have a client with a legal or business matter pending against, before or with the DOE must obtain such client's consent to apply for employment with the DOE. If invited to interview for this position, such applicants are required to disclose the nature of such matters at the interview.

Preferred:

• Experience in employment or education law.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to rapidly understand provisions of applicable law and regulations.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Ability to conduct legal research efficiently and provide prompt advice.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to take initiative and be self-motivated and flexible.
• Ability to work well in a high-volume, fast-paced work environment.

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