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Q&A
Current staffing levels and vacancy rates at the Law Department
2:53:34
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Council Member Restler inquires about the current staffing situation at the Law Department, highlighting a significant decrease in staff numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels. Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant provides current figures for attorneys and legal support professionals on staff.
- The Law Department is operating with about 400 fewer staff members compared to pre-pandemic levels.
- Currently, there are approximately 770 attorneys and 685 legal support professionals on staff.
- The tort division has been most impacted by the decrease in staffing.
Lincoln Restler
2:53:34
Thank Wonderful.
2:53:37
Thank you for that thoughtful testimony and that thorough testimony.
2:53:43
I'd like to just start with staffing.
2:53:45
The preliminary plan included fourteen fifty four full time positions budgeted for FY '25 and 1510 for FY '26.
2:53:58
As of January, the law department's actual headcount was thirteen seventy three, which leaves 81 vacant positions for the current fiscal year, a 5% vacancy rate.
2:54:09
But if we factor in the three forty one positions that mayor Adams cut from the law department's budgeted headcount, the real vacancy rate is more like 24%.
2:54:21
Prior to the pandemic, the law department had 1,774 staff members on board.
2:54:29
You're now operating with 400 fewer people, nearly a quarter of the agency.
2:54:35
Could you provide an update on how many attorneys and support professionals you currently have on staff?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
2:54:43
We have approximately 770 attorneys on staff and 685 legal support professionals.
Lincoln Restler
2:54:56
So we saw a 1% increase in the number of attorneys since a year ago and a two percent increase in the number of 3% and maybe increase in the legal support professionals.
2:55:15
Considering how far down we are from the pre pandemic peak, I continue to be very concerned.
2:55:26
Which units have been most impacted by the decrease in staffing over this five year period?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
2:55:32
In particular, our tort division has been most impacted.
Lincoln Restler
2:55:39
Could you share with us, not today obviously, but in writing, a list of the number of assistant court counsels per unit and how that compares I think to the pre pandemic peak, if you have that.
Eric Eichenholtz
2:55:53
Yes, we can get that for you.
Lincoln Restler
2:55:55
Thanks and just don't forget to turn the mic on when you can.