New York City Law Department

New York City Law Department
Department overview
JurisdictionNew York City
Employees1,548 (FY 2024)
Annual budget$246.9 million (FY 2024)
Department executive
Key document
Websitewww.nyc.gov/law

The New York City Law Department, also known as the Office of the Corporation Counsel,[1] is the department of the government of New York City responsible for most of the city's legal affairs.[2] The department is headed by the Corporation Counsel, most recently Sylvia Hinds-Radix, the 81st official to hold this position, who resigned on June 1, 2024.

The Law Department represents the mayor, city agencies, and city officials in all civil litigation, in juvenile delinquency proceedings in Family Court, and in prosecutions in the New York City Criminal Court under the New York City Administrative Code. Among the department's other duties are drafting contracts, leases, municipal bond issues, and other legal documents for the city; reviewing local and state legislation; and providing legal advice to city officials on a wide variety of issues.

The New York City Charter, the New York City Administrative Code, and the Rules of the City of New York are published online by American Legal Publishing Corporation under contract with the Law Department.[3] The department's regulations are compiled in title 46 of the Rules.

  1. ^ "Brief History Of The New York City Law Department Office of the Corporation Counsel" (PDF). New York City Law Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  2. ^ New York City Charter § 391 ("There shall be a law department the head of which shall be the corporation counsel."); id. § 394 ("[T]he corporation counsel shall be attorney and counsel for the city and every agency thereof and shall have charge and conduct of all the law business of the city and its agencies and in which the city is interested.").
  3. ^ "Laws of the City of New York". New York City Law Department. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023. The laws and rules of the City of New York are now available on the Web. The Law Department contracted with American Legal Publishing Corporation for a site where you can browse and search the New York City Charter, the New York City Administrative Code, and the Rules of the City of New York.