Metropolitan Transportation Authority Careers

This position is eligible for telework. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Summary:

The Associate Counsel, Transactions position reports to a Deputy General Counsel or Assistant Deputy General Counsel in the Transactions Division of the consolidated MTA Legal Department. The current Transactions Divisions are the: 1) Condemnation Division, 2) Environmental Division, 3) Finance Division, 4) Procurement and Contracts Division, 5) Real Estate Development Division, 6) Real Estate Transactions and Operations Division, and 7) Special Projects Division.

Depending on the needs of the Legal Department and the Division, the duties of the Associate Counsel include representing the MTA and its operating agencies in transactions (contracts, agreements, and associated documentation), client counseling, compliance, negotiations, dispute resolution, risk management, and (for Environmental and Condemnation Divisions) litigation matters. The duties of the Associate Counsel include providing legal counsel on statutory, regulatory, and agency policy matters, as well as other matters that pertain to or affect the operations and functions of the MTA and its affiliates and subsidiaries. The transactions, compliance, negotiations, dispute resolution, risk management, counseling, and (for the Environmental and Condemnation Divisions) litigation duties of the Associate Counsel are increasingly complex and involve greater responsibility and independence.

Associate Counsel – Levels I, II, and III

Join the MTA Legal team as an Associate Counsel and play a key role in providing legal representation and support on a wide range of matters. Depending on level, responsibilities include:

• Level I: Assist senior attorneys with contract reviews, negotiations, and transactional support; conduct legal research; draft routine agreements; and manage deadlines across assigned matters. Gain exposure to corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and policy issues under the guidance of experienced counsel.
• Level II: Provide legal representation on matters of ordinary to moderate complexity. Review and draft contracts, support negotiations, conduct legal research, and assist with dispute resolution and litigation tasks. Work with regular supervision while managing deadlines and contributing to diverse legal matters.
• Level III: Handle a demanding docket of matters with moderate complexity and significant sensitivity. Review and draft moderately complex contracts, lead negotiations, advise on agency policies, and participate in dispute resolution. Supervise junior attorneys on select matters and work closely with internal clients to identify and mitigate legal risks.

Responsibilities:

Associate Counsel – Level I

• Provide legal representation and counsel to the MTA on assigned Matters of ordinary complexity.
• Work with direct supervision from the Deputy General Counsel, direct supervisor, or more senior attorneys in the division.
• Responsible for a moderately busy docket of Matters of ordinary sensitivity and with modest financial and policy exposure. 
• Matters assigned may include providing legal support for transactions and corporate business activities, such as gathering documents and information from internal clients and stakeholders, keeping transactional issue lists and deal closing checklists, and updating contract templates, transactional checklists, and clause libraries. 
• Assist more senior attorneys during contract and other negotiations, including summarizing client and opposing/counterparty positions and deal terms.
• Assist more senior attorneys in performing initial reviews of contracts, agreements, and documents utilizing approved transaction checklists, with a demonstrated understanding of fundamental contracting principles. 
• Populate approved templates for low complexity and routine contracts and agreements.
• Identify and summarize applicable legal authorities relating to business objectives, maintain contract deal term summaries, issue lists and closing checklists, and assist senior attorneys with the gathering of pertinent information and materials.
• Conduct legal research regarding a wide range of issues and clearly convey conclusions and recommendations.
• Produce clear and organized written work product, including correspondence and memoranda to supervisors and clients, progress notes, matter files, and other legal documents, and understand fundamental contracting principles.
• Assist the Deputy General Counsel or other senior attorneys in providing in-house legal counsel on non-litigation Matters, including statutory, regulatory, and internal agency policy issues.
• Respond clearly, effectively, and promptly regarding requests from supervisors and clients.
• Independently manage deadlines in all assigned matters.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy General Counsel or direct supervisor.
• [For Environmental and Condemnation Divisions Only] Concerning litigation matters, assist more senior attorneys during witness interviews, investigations, depositions, arguments, hearings, and trials.

In addition to meeting Level I expectations, a Level II Associate Counsel assignment requires the demonstrated ability to perform most or all the following:

Associate Counsel – Level II

• Provide excellent legal representation and counsel to the MTA on assigned Matters of ordinary to moderate complexity.
• Work effectively with regular supervision from the Deputy General Counsel, direct supervisor, or more senior attorneys in the division.
• Efficiently gather information and materials from across the agencies relevant to non-litigation and (for Environmental and Condemnation Divisions) litigation and Matters.
• Support negotiations by summarizing parties’ positions in negotiations and persuasively presenting arguments in favor of client positions.
• Review low-risk/value contracts effectively and based on a solid understanding of business and legal objectives
• Draft simple contracts based on standard templates, and flags and identify additional issues of basic to moderate risk for senior counsel and the client.
• Identify, assemble, and thoroughly review information and materials from across the MTA relevant to contracts and agreements, and environmental, condemnation, and finance and other Matters of moderate complexity for issue spotting. 
• Support senior attorneys in dispute resolution by generating information and summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of each party’s positions. 
• [For Environmental and Condemnation Divisions Only] With regular supervision, handle or work with outside counsel on assigned litigation matters of ordinary complexity, including discovery motions and motions to dismiss, defending depositions, appearing at preliminary and discovery conferences, and arguing motions.

In addition to meeting Level II expectations, a Level III Associate Counsel assignment requires the demonstrated ability to perform most or all of the following:

Associate Counsel – Level III

• Provide excellent legal representation and counsel to the MTA on assigned Matters of moderate complexity.
• Handle a heavy or demanding docket of Matters, including matters of significant sensitivity and financial and policy exposure.
• Handle Matters that include multiple counterparties, and are able to organize large volumes of factual and legal information in an organized and cohesive manner.
• Produce written work product that is sophisticated, thorough, and, where appropriate, persuasive.
• Handle low to moderately complex issue negotiations professionally and effectively, and identify and mitigate risks that could impact the contract, agreement, or compliance matter.
• Review moderately complex contracts, agreements, and other documents with a high degree of skill reflecting the direction provided by the client and supervisor.
• Draft clear and concise provisions for moderately complex contracts, agreements, and other documents with a high degree of skills reflecting the direction provided by the client and supervisor.
• Organize large volumes of factual and legal information and assemble it in an organized and cohesive manner. 
• Participate in dispute resolution discussions with the approved authority with the ability to adeptly assess the strengths and weaknesses of each party’s position on low to moderately complex disputes.
• Provide legal counsel on non-litigation Matters independently regarding routine issues and with supervision on more complex issues.
• Review and advise the client regarding proposed new agency policies, rules, and procedures.
• Establish strong and collaborative relationships with internal clients and successfully communicate complex legal issues.
• Identify legal risks and communicate them to internal clients or the Deputy General Counsel or supervisor where appropriate.
• At times, supervise the work of other attorneys on Matters staffed with multiple lawyers or on Matters assigned to less experienced attorneys.
• [For Environmental and Condemnation Divisions Only] With regular supervision, handle or work with outside counsel on assigned litigation matters of ordinary to moderate complexity, including making and defending summary judgment motions and motions made on an expedited basis, and taking depositions.

Education and Experience: 

Levels I-III

Depending on the Matter assigned, the Associate Counsel may be asked to work productively with:

• MTA Legal Department Deputy General Counsel and all MTA Legal Department professional and administrative staff.
• MTA Departments and Units/Offices, including Accessibility, Audit, Communications, Compliance/Ethics, Diversity and Civil Rights, Finance, Information Technology, Labor Relations, People, Procurement, Strategic Initiatives, and System Safety.
• Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, and senior staff at New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road, Bridges and Tunnels, and Construction and Development.
• Federal, State, or local administrative agencies.
• Office of the MTA Inspector General.
• MTA’s labor partners.

Level I:

Required Education and Experience

• JD from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in New York.  A recent law school graduate who has taken the New York Bar but not yet been admitted to practice in New York may serve in the position at Level 1 for a period not to exceed one year. 

Required Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong legal research and writing ability.
• Knowledge base and practice skills relating to the various practice areas and responsibilities of this position.

Levels II-III(In addition to the above):

Required Education and Experience

• A minimum of 1 year of relevant law firm or in-house experience.

Required Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge base and practice skills relating to the various practice areas and responsibilities of this position.

Preferred Experience

• Public sector legal experience, particularly in New York City or New York State.
• Transportation sector experience.

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

May be assigned to work at any MTA Legal Department location.

May be assigned or reassigned to any MTA Legal Department Division, Bureau, or Unit and may be required to handle Matters in any Division, Bureau, or Unit.

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.