New York City Law Department Externship: Representing New York City

Course Description

"Representing New York City" provides an overview of work as an attorney for New York City. These attorneys work on a wide range of matters including litigation in state and federal court, advice and counsel on local legislation and regulation, major real estate transactions and other land use planning issues, and juvenile delinquency hearings before the Family Court. The Law Department, under the supervision of the NYC Corporation Counsel, has the legal responsibility of representing the largest and most complex city in the United States. Students will work in one of the Law Department’s divisions, or in an agency counsel’s office, where they will perform research and writing under the supervision of assistant corporation counsels or other municipal counsel who serve as site supervisors. 

Students will also meet together weekly in seminar to discuss legal and policy topics that arise in connection with representing a municipal institution like New York City. Each student will prepare a final project proposing law or policy reform through legislation, rule-making, litigation or otherwise, to present to a municipal official at the end of the semester. Through each of these elements, students will gain experience approaching problems as a lawyer representing New York City would.  Classroom sessions will regularly include opportunities to learn and use a variety of legal skills, including counseling, negotiation, and collaboration. 

Application Procedure

Students interested in applying for the clinic should submit the standard application, resume, and transcript online through CAMS. Students may then be contacted for a telephone interview.

* The credits consist of 3 clinical (fieldwork) credits for working 10 hours per week at the New York City Law Department or an agency counsel’s office, and 2 academic seminar credits per semester. This class is graded for both the fieldwork and the seminar. The final project for the seminar may be used to satisfy Writing Option B upon request.