TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
THE NEW YORK CITY LAW DEPARTMENT
The Department, led by Corporation Counsel Michael A. Cardozo, is responsible for the legal affairs of the City of New York.
With over 625 attorneys and 10 o?ces located in each of the ?ve boroughs, the Law Department is the fourth largest law
o?ce in New York City and the third largest public law o?ce in the nation.
Law Department attorneys represent the City, its elected o?cials and the City’s numerous agencies in all a?rmative and
defensive civil litigation, as well as juvenile delinquency proceedings in Family Court and prosecutions of violations of the City’s
Administrative Code in Criminal Court. Our attorneys also draft and review local and State legislation, real estate leases,
procurement contracts and ?nancial instruments prepared in connection with the sale of municipal bonds. Attorneys in all
divisions provide legal counsel to City o?cials on a wide range of issues including education, health, employment, public safety
and environmental policy.
Law Department attorneys have always been on the cutting edge of the legal profession, having appeared before the United
States Supreme Court more than 60 times. Landmark cases include Ward v. Rock Against Racism, which established the
standard for time, place and manner restrictions on the exercise of free speech; Penn Central v. City of New York, which
upheld the power of governments to protect designated landmarks; and Goldberg v. Kelly, which established the standard of
due process required prior to the deprivation of government bene?ts.
“The Law Department offers its new attorneys unparalleled opportunities for professional
development. I have engaged in extensive motion practice, repeatedly appeared in
State and Federal Court, and even conducted a jury trial. When coupled with broadbased training, individualized mentoring, and liberal access to some of the most talented
attorneys in the City, I cannot imagine a better place to begin a legal career.”
Josh Wolf
Class 2008, Hofstra Law School
Tax & Bankruptcy Litigation Division
Recent high-pro?le matters handled by the Law Department include:
Transferring Two Parks to City Control
Marking a major achievement for the City, Department attorneys helped to structure, negotiate, and document
the terms under which control of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Project and Governors Island was transferred from
State to City-controlled entities. The transfer will accelerate the development of these important public spaces.
City of New York v. Exxon Mobil Corporation
1
Exxon Mobil was ordered to pay $105 million to the City after a jury verdict found that the company had
contaminated New York City ground water with the gasoline additive MTBE. Several other ??????????????????)??????
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