Lead Attorney – General Counsel

Position Title: Lead Attorney – General Counsel
Engagement Type: Consulting (Contractor)
 Location: Remote with travel across New York State as needed
Estimated Hours: 500 hours over 12 months
Reports To: Executive Director

Role Summary:

The Lead Attorney will serve as the principal legal advisor to the NYSCCRR, managing the legal team and providing strategic legal guidance to support the Commission’s mission to examine the legacy of slavery in New York and recommend reparative policies. This role requires deep expertise in civil rights law, legislative analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Commission’s General Counsel and lead all legal activities.
  
• Ensure compliance with NYS and federal legal frameworks.
  
• Draft legal language for reparative policies, programs, and proposed legislation.
  
• Analyze existing laws and identify legal barriers to implementation.
  
• Collaborate with historians, policy analysts, and economists to interpret findings.
  
• Advise on the creation of administrative or legislative frameworks for reparations.
  
• Represent the legal team in meetings with elected officials, agencies, and community stakeholders.
  
• Support public engagement efforts, including hearings and forums.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
  
• Admission to the New York State Bar.
  
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in civil rights law, policy advocacy, or government affairs.
  
• Demonstrated experience drafting legislation and navigating complex legal frameworks.
  
• Familiarity with reparative justice, systemic inequities, and the NYS Reparations Bill (S1163A).
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience advising commissions, task forces, or public bodies.
  
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.