REMARKS
Qualifications and responsibilities of the Corporation Counsel
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86 sec
Council Member Adams outlines the qualifications and responsibilities required for the position of Corporation Counsel, emphasizing that legal expertise alone is not sufficient.
- The role requires a high standard of commitment to public service and justice
- The Corporation Counsel must have public trust and be accountable to all officials represented by the law department
- They must be able to lead over 800 attorneys and support staff, and represent the entire city impartially
Adrienne E. Adams
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The role of Corporation Council is a prestigious and powerful position in our city government.
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To serve the public at this level is a great privilege.
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It's based on qualifications, attributes, and many aspects of a nominee's record.
0:03:40
Being a qualified attorney and litigator is not the full breadth of qualifications required for this critical position.
0:03:49
There are many experienced and effective lawyers in our great city.
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But any prospective corporation counsel must meet a high standard of commitment to public service and justice.
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They also need New Yorkers' trust and must be accountable to the public and the many officials represented by the law department.
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They must be able to confidently lead the more than 800 attorneys and support staff of the law department.
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They must faithfully represent all of us, the entire city, the council, agencies, and other elected officials.
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The reason that our city charter was revised to require this position receive advice and consent came from the need to ensure corporation counsel does not prioritize the mayor or any single official over the city's interests and justice.