2023 Entry Level Attorney Class - NYC Law Department
Each year, the NYC Law Department typically hires an entry class of 40-80 recent law school graduates. These new attorneys receive unparalleled, hands-on legal experience in a supportive learning environment. New attorneys attend extensive orientation and training programs. They then take responsibility for their own matters, supervised closely by experienced attorneys.
A majority of new attorneys work in one of our litigating divisions where they engage in the day-to-day work of state and federal court litigation, including drafting motions, conducting depositions, exchanging discovery and appearing in court and at depositions. These divisions include, in order of numbers of placements each year, our Tort, Labor and Employment, Special Federal Litigation, Family Court, Administrative Law and Regulatory Litigation, General Litigation, Commercial and Real Estate Litigation, and Workers’ Compensation Divisions. On occasion, we have placed an entry-level attorney in our Affirmative Litigation, Appeals, Environmental Law, Legal Counsel, and Tax and Bankruptcy Litigation Divisions. Generally, we do not place entry-level attorneys in our transactional divisions, which include our Economic Development, Contracts and Real Estate, and Municipal Finance Divisions. Read more about our entry level Assistant Corporation Counsel position and our application process in our Frequently Asked Questions. To learn more about the Law Department's legal divisions, you can read the descriptions of the divisions. In addition, you can reach out to Law Department attorneys who have volunteered to be contacted by applicants interested in learning more about our work through our Law Department Ambassadors page.
The Law Department looks for candidates who are committed to public service, pursuing justice and serving the common good. To best serve the City we represent, the Law Department seeks individuals from a variety of backgrounds who can bring different perspectives to contribute to the work of the office. The Law Department also seeks candidates who want to contribute to a work environment that values teamwork, inclusion and respect. Finally, as many of our entry-level attorneys work in litigating divisions, the Law Department seeks candidates who have experience in moot court, trial advocacy, debate, public speaking, or litigation/mediation clinics or internships.