[§ 134, L.L. No. 4-1925; L.L. No. 19-1928; L.L. No. 5-1941; L.L. No. 6-1955; L.L. No. 18-1970; L.L. No. 8-1972; § 1, L.L. No. 9-1984; § 1, L.L. No. 10-1992; § 1, L.L. No. 1-2006; § 1, L.L. No. 4-2012; § 2, L.L. No. 6-2024]
The Corporation Counsel, as the head
of the Department of Law, shall attend to all the legal business of
the City. He or she shall be admitted to practice as an attorney and
counselor in the courts of the State of New York. He or she shall
be the legal advisor of the City and all its departments and officers;
shall represent the same in all acts and proceedings to which they
are a party; shall have power to appeal from any order, decision or
judgment; and shall, subject to necessary appropriations of the Council,
have power to enter into any agreement and to compromise and settle
any claim against the City. The Corporation Counsel shall have the
power to commence an action or proceeding in the name of the City,
or the necessary and proper City department, board, bureau or officer.
He or she shall approve or prepare for execution any contract or instrument
to which the City is a party. With the approval of the Mayor, the
Corporation Counsel shall appoint assistants and deputies and other
members of the Department. Notwithstanding these powers, the City
Council shall have the authority to establish a position of Legal
Counsel to the City Council to serve as their legal advisor relative
to all matters considered by the Council. Nothing herein shall remove
the responsibility of the Corporation Counsel to represent the City
Council and its members and staff in any legal proceedings.