Pro-bono chief brings three decades of advocacy to NYC Law Department
Legal Aid Background Shapes Transformative Approach to City’s Top Legal Position
Steven Banks, who spent more than three decades as a Legal Aid Society attorney before serving in city government, has been selected to lead the New York City Law Department as corporation counsel under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. His extensive background representing low-income clients in housing, public benefits, and homelessness cases brings a fundamentally different perspective to a position traditionally filled by corporate lawyers from elite firms. Banks left his most recent position as pro-bono chief at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison law firm to accept the nomination, making a deliberate choice to prioritize public service over prestigious private practice. His appointment marks the first time a Legal Aid attorney has been elevated to this position in New York City history.
The Path From Legal Aid to City Government and Back to Justice
Banks began his legal career at the Legal Aid Society, where he worked for 30 years in various capacities, eventually becoming attorney-in-chief of the organization. The Legal Aid Society, the country’s largest provider of defense services to indigent clients and low-income New Yorkers, gave Banks hands-on experience with the legal challenges facing poor and working-class communities. Visit the Legal Aid Society to learn more about their work. His transition to city government in 2014 was marked by his appointment as commissioner of the Department of Social Services under Mayor Bill de Blasio, a position he held for nearly eight years. During this tenure, Banks oversaw social services for more than 200,000 families and shaped the city’s approach to poverty and homelessness.
Landmark Advocacy Work Preserving Right to Shelter
Banks represented the Coalition for the Homeless in landmark litigation that defined his career. Most notably, in 2024, he secured a settlement that preserved New York City’s Right to Shelter law after the Adams administration attempted to restrict it during the migrant crisis when Texas Governor Greg Abbott bused thousands of migrants to New York City. This groundbreaking legal victory protected the city’s constitutional requirement to provide shelter to homeless individuals and families, a critical safeguard. Banks’ work on these cases demonstrates his commitment to defending vulnerable populations against government overreach and corporate exploitation.
Why His Paul Weiss Departure Signals Principled Commitment
Banks departed from Paul Weiss in April 2025, just weeks after the prestigious law firm struck a controversial agreement with President Donald Trump. Paul Weiss agreed to dedicate $40 million in pro bono legal services to support the Trump administration’s goals, and the agreement allowed the firm to escape a punitive executive order Trump had issued. Banks’ departure from the firm at that moment signals his unwillingness to be associated with providing legal support to the Trump administration’s agenda, particularly given Trump’s immigration policies and attacks on vulnerable populations.
Principles Over Prestige and Elite Compensation
The decision to leave Paul Weiss for a city government position demonstrates that Banks prioritizes serving vulnerable populations over the substantial financial compensation and prestige offered by elite law firms. Since leaving Paul Weiss, Banks has been working as an independent practitioner specializing in public interest and social justice law. His choice reflects genuine commitment to justice work rather than pursuit of wealth accumulation.
The Law Department’s Scope and Responsibilities Under Banks
As corporation counsel, Banks will oversee approximately 850 attorneys working in the city’s Law Department. These attorneys defend the city in litigation brought against municipal agencies, pursue claims on behalf of city agencies, and provide legal advice to city officials. The position has traditionally been reserved for corporate lawyers with experience in complex commercial litigation and municipal bond issues related to real estate development. Banks’ selection represents a deliberate and significant shift toward emphasizing civil rights and community concerns in the city’s legal strategy.
Council Confirmation and Public Accountability
Banks’ appointment requires confirmation by the New York City Council. During confirmation hearings, he is likely to face questions about his vision for the Law Department and how he plans to balance traditional municipal legal responsibilities with civil rights advocacy and social justice. His testimony will provide important insight into the Mamdani administration’s priorities regarding law enforcement accountability, housing rights, public benefits, and other areas affecting vulnerable New Yorkers. Learn more about NYC legal processes at NYC Law Department.
Using Law Department as Social Justice Tool
Banks indicated that he intends to use the Law Department strategically to advance the Mamdani administration’s policy goals rather than operate as a purely defensive legal entity protecting the city from liability and court judgments. This approach could involve aggressive prosecution of wage theft cases against employers, aggressive defense of tenant rights in eviction proceedings, and strategic challenges to policies that harm vulnerable populations.
Historical Significance and Representation
Banks will be the first Legal Aid attorney ever to be nominated as corporation counsel, marking a significant shift in the types of professionals elevated to this position. His appointment reflects the Mamdani administration’s commitment to centering the concerns and legal needs of working-class and poor New Yorkers in city governance and legal strategy. This positioning stands in stark contrast to previous administrations that often prioritized business interests, real estate development concerns, and corporate power.
Implications for Future City Legal Strategy and Justice
Banks’ leadership of the Law Department will likely reshape how the city handles housing litigation, welfare benefit disputes, police misconduct cases, and other matters affecting vulnerable populations. His selection signals that the Mamdani administration intends to use municipal legal authority as a tool for advancing social justice rather than merely defending the status quo. Learn more about housing law at NYC Bar Association and public benefits at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
