Former Legal Aid leader takes helm of Law Department as city faces federal conflicts
Steven Banks, a former Legal Aid Society attorney-in-chief and de Blasio administration Department of Social Services commissioner, becomes corporation counsel under Mamdani. The appointment, announced December 30, 2025 and confirmed by City Council February 12, 2026, positions the city’s chief lawyer to face expected litigation with the Trump administration and navigate complex policy disputes.
Legal Aid and Social Services Background
Banks spent years as attorney-in-chief at Legal Aid, where he litigated against the city itself on homelessness, right-to-shelter, and housing rights issues. As DSS commissioner under de Blasio, he managed the human services bureaucracy and worked to expand services to homeless individuals and families. These roles position him with deep understanding of how litigation shapes policy.
Corporation Counsel Responsibilities
The corporation counsel heads the Law Department, managing litigation involving the city as defendant, advising the mayor and agencies on legal issues, and representing the city in disputes with the state and federal governments. The position involves managing thousands of lawsuits, labor negotiations with union attorneys, and strategic counsel to the administration.
Federal Litigation and Trump Administration
The Trump administration has signaled intent to reduce immigration enforcement by cutting funding for sanctuary city programs and challenging regulations. Banks will represent NYC in defending its sanctuary city policies and immigration protections from federal legal challenges. This represents politically charged litigation that will define his tenure.
Right-to-Shelter Litigation
Banks previously defended the city’s right-to-shelter mandate against legal challenge. Now as corporation counsel, he must defend it against attempts to scale back the mandate or reduce implementation. The tension between expanding services and litigation defense creates potential conflicts that Banks will need to navigate.
Staffing Challenges
Mamdani has stated his intention to add several hundred lawyers to the understaffed Law Department. Banks must recruit and retain legal talent amid public sector compensation constraints and the politically charged environment. For Law Department information, see the NYC Law Department website. Read about legal aid at Legal Aid Society. Learn about sanctuary city policy at Immigrant Defense Project. Understand litigation strategy at New York City Bar Association.
