Assistant Counsel & Records Access Officer

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Offices of the New York State Inspector General

Assistant Counsel & Records Access Officer

The Offices of the Inspector General (“OIG”) are comprised of three offices, derived from the three appointments held by Inspector General Lucy Lang:

• The Office of the New York State Inspector General (“NYSIG”), as established by Executive Law Article 4-A, is entrusted with the responsibility of receiving and investigating complaints of fraud, corruption, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, and abuse in executive branch agencies of New York State government. Since June 2021, this includes complaints related to the New York State Gaming Commission.
• The Office of the New York State Welfare Inspector General (“OWIG”), as established by section 74 of the Executive Law, is responsible for maintaining the integrity of New York State’s public assistance programs; and
• The Office of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General (“WCFIG”), as established by section 136 of the Workers’ Compensation Law, is responsible for investigating violations of the laws and regulations pertaining to the operation of the workers’ compensation system.

OIG has office locations in Albany, Buffalo, Hauppauge, New York City, Suffern, and Syracuse.

Job Description

OIG is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as an Assistant Counsel and the agency’s Records Access Officer (AC/RAO) within the Office of the Chief Counsel.

The AC/RAO will assist in the management of civil litigation matters involving the agency, respond to subpoena and other discovery requests, provide legal guidance to staff on investigatory matters, and assist with the creating, administration, and tracking of internal and external trainings. The AC/RAO may also be asked to may also assist, as needed, with report writing, editing, and other investigative tasks.

OIG receives a significant number Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) requests each year. As OIG’s Records Access Officer, the AC/RAO will, under the direction of the Chief Counsel, receive, track, and ensure OIG’s FOIL compliance on all statewide matters. Specific responsibilities in this area will include developing fluency with all OIG case management systems to effectively compile potentially responsive documents, liaising with internal investigative teams about requests, communicating with requestors, and ensuring timely and complete production of responsive materials, subject to appropriate FOIL exemptions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Admitted to practice and in good standing with the bar of the State of New York, with a minimum of five (5) years of legal experience, preferably within an investigative, prosecutorial, or civil litigation context.
• Candidates should have prior experience with the provisions of the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), or other analogous state information access law, and compliance therewith. Specific experience utilizing document review and/or e-discovery platforms to code and log for relevancy, confidentiality and privilege is highly desirable.
• Candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to synthesize large volumes of information and explain complex subject matters in a fashion appropriate for public consumption.
• Candidates must also have sound judgment, a collegial attitude, the ability to work well independently, be a highly adept multitasker, and display both a sense of urgency and an ability to meet deadlines.
• A work-related familiarity with New York State government, its agencies, and laws is preferred but not required.

New York State residency and strict adherence to confidentiality is required. This is a Management Confidential position appointed by the Inspector General with an approved salary range of $90,931 - $114,940 (Grade M-1 equivalent), within which OIG seeks to hire, commensurate with experience. Interviews and hiring will be done on a rolling basis and this posting is subject to removal at any time once the position(s) has been filled.

To Apply

Please email resume and cover letter, with the subject line “Assistant Counsel/RAO + [Desired Office Location]” to: jobs@ig.ny.gov

The State of New York does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion or disability in the admission to, access to or employment in our programs or activities. All persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply for all jobs they are qualified to do, and reasonable accommodation will be provided upon request. The State of New York is an Equal Opportunity Employer.