Mediation Program Attorney

The New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) works every day to implement the city’s Human Rights Law through enforcement, education, and outreach. The Commission seeks to address historic and contemporary inequities to cultivate a city where everyone can live, work, and thrive free from discrimination.

Through training, education, and policy initiatives, the Commission aims to root out discrimination. The Commission proactively identifies patterns of discrimination through testing employers, housing providers, and providers of public accommodation. The Commission also uses investigations, litigation, and other enforcement tools to address allegations of discrimination.

The Commission’s Office of Mediation and Conflict Resolution (“OMCR”), revamped in 2017, has developed and implements a voluntary mediation program that provides a neutral and empowering process for all parties to facilitate a quick, efficient, and mutually acceptable resolution of claims. The program allows OMCR to assist in facilitating resolutions at various stages of the enforcement process. OMCR provides these mediation services at no cost. OMCR is supervised by a Director of OMCR and reports to the General Counsel.

The Mediation Program Attorneys will report to the Director of OMCR and ensure access to high-quality mediation services for members of the public.

Job Duties

- Timely, precise, and accurate case management. The mediation docket is complex, large, and involves negotiating competing deadlines. Case management duties begin with the initial referral from LEB through settlement or other resolution. Tasks include:
o verifying materials submitted to OMCR at referral and follow-up, as needed, to obtain any additional information needed promptly upon referral;
o promptly drafting case related communications and agreements;
o disseminating initiating documents to parties and/or their representatives and follow-up, as needed, to ensure cases move forward;
o managing multiple calendars, scheduling conference calls, virtual and in-person mediation sessions with parties, and liaising with outside entities or staff to reserve space for mediations;
o ensuring case files are updated and contain all required materials, including following up with parties concerning paperwork as needed to meet deadlines;
o prompt and accurate data entry and docketing of all mediation related events, to enter, manage, and generate reports relating to OMCR case data; and
o updating and maintaining OMCR staff calendars with current schedule including deadlines, conferences, and mediation sessions for all mediation cases.

- Developing, managing, and building relationships with Commission staff and personnel at other City agencies in support of OMCR’s work to increase capacity and efficiency by explaining the OMCR process, creatively managing resources to ensure seamless delivery of mediation services, and, as needed, assisting in reviewing and revising OMCR processes;
- Expanding OMCR’s public outreach by managing and/or assisting others in collecting, verifying accuracy, and reporting mediation data as needed and requested, drafting and disseminating OMCR materials, fielding calls from the public about OMCR’s work; and attending training programs, conferences, and other OMCR activities as directed.
- Attending and, as directed, assisting with pre-mediation calls, virtual and in-person mediation sessions and assisting the Director of OMCR with related activities, such as legal analysis of party submissions, legal research as needed, and drafting legal memos as needed and directed by the Director of OMCR;
- At the Director’s discretion, conducting virtual and in-person mediation sessions and related activities.
- Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of mediation and conflict resolution skills and techniques; and
- Providing additional support to the Director of OMCR and any additional duties on other matters needed to advance the work of the OMCR and the Commission

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

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, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.