Affirmative Litigation - Law Department

New York City Law Department


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Administrative Law And Regulatory Litigation

Affirmative Litigation

Appeals

Commercial And Real Estate Litigation

Contracts And Real Estate

Economic Development

Environmental Law

Ethics And Compliance

Family Court

General Litigation

Labor And Employment Law

Legal Counsel

Municipal Finance

Risk Management

Special Federal Litigation

Tax And Bankruptcy

Tort

Workers' Compensation


Affirmative Litigation

The Affirmative Litigation Division represents the City as plaintiff. The Division litigates a wide range of issues in federal and state court and before administrative agencies, and advises City agencies on a wide range of topics. Subject areas include commercial disputes; hazardous product claims; civil racketeering and fraud claims; nuisance and restitution claims; antitrust claims; intellectual property claims; and challenges to state and federal government decisions affecting funding for public benefit programs and education.

What New Attorneys Do

New attorneys in the Affirmative Litigation Division, working with senior attorneys, handle all aspects of litigation brought in state and federal court on behalf of the City and related entities. This includes investigating facts and developing legal theories; drafting briefs, affidavits, and other papers; arguing motions in court; taking and defending depositions; interviewing and preparing witnesses; and conducting settlement negotiations. New attorneys manage smaller cases themselves, with supervision, while playing a substantial role in larger cases managed by senior attorneys.

What Summer Interns Do

In the Affirmative Litigation Division, summer interns participate in matters reflecting the variety of the Division's caseload. Interns can expect to assist attorneys by drafting complaints and dispositive motion papers, researching and summarizing complex legal issues, and attending client meetings, negotiations and oral arguments. Representative projects from past summers include analyzing data and writing brief points for the City's litigation against illegal cigarette trafficking and research into the diverse areas of law including antitrust, tax-exempt status of foreign embassies, desegregation orders and insurance coverage. Interns will come away from the summer with hands-on legal experience and one or more substantive writing samples.
Read the Law Department's Annual Reports for More Information about the Affirmative Litigation Division

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