Senior Attorney (NY Helps)

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

The candidate will be responsible for drafting and preparing determinations of administrative appeals (Petitions for Administrative Review) of Rent Administrators' determinations which may include the reforming of allowable rent increases and the legal rents for apartments; performing legal research and analysis; and preparing opinions and memoranda of law.

The candidate may also process complaints from tenants who allege they are being harassed by their landlord or where the tenant has alleged that the owner has failed to comply with agency orders. The attorney may schedule and hold informal conferences at DHCR offices at which the owner, tenant and witnesses will appear. The candidate will need to ensure the room location of the conference and that all required equipment such as tape recording devices are available and in working order. Candidate will also be responsible for ensuring language interpretation services are available for tenants, owner and witnesses that require such services. In some cases, where the case settles, it will be necessary to draft stipulations of settlement. Settlements will then be monitored to ensure compliance. In instances where there is no settlement the attorney will be expected to proceed to a formal hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Attorneys may also be requested to appear in the Courts.