Data Scientist: Use Data to Develop Legal Hypotheses (6463)

Data can and does play a pivotal role in decisioning on a wide range of OAG’s work. The Data Scientist will be primarily responsible for:

• All aspects of using data to develop and test legal hypotheses, including: o Brainstorming with legal teams on the data required o Acquiring data through public sources and assisting legal teams to acquire data from confidential sources to ensure the delivery of data sufficient for investigation o Testing data for reliability o Distilling and incorporating relevant academic and other analytical research o Developing and executing appropriate methodologies for data exploration and analysis o Clearly communicating findings verbally and through written reports and visualizations, including relevant limitations o Continuously updating analysis in the face of feedback and new data o Quantifying uncertainty in analytical findings

• Working closely with legal teams on all the aspects above and providing guidance and recommendations on decision making around data
• Additional responsibilities may include: o Developing predictive modeling to detect anomalies o Developing or programming new databases or data tools o Writing fact and expert reports for submission to the court and defending analysis and findings in depositions o Helping to maintain and improve the team’s shared computational infrastructure o Staying informed of the latest advances in data tools and techniques and sharing newfound skills with the team o Performing other duties as requested

• Advanced degree in economics, computer science, mathematics, applied statistics, engineering or similar disciplines with demonstrated research capability or bachelor’s degree and equivalent experience and training
• At least three (3) years of demonstrated qualitative, quantitative, or investigative research abilities
• Git/github familiarity

• Experience with the following technologies: o Programming, scripting, and statistical languages (e.g., Python, R, use of dataframes) o Data visualization software (e.g., Tableau, d3, altair, plotly, matplotlib, bokeh) o Relational databases and advanced SQL queries

• Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills
• Ability to communicate technical concepts and results to non-technical audiences
• Highly organized, self-directed, and curious
• Personable and positive with a high level of integrity
• Interest in public policy and social/economic justice
• Candidates with additional experience in any of the following are preferred: o Linux command line tools o Cloud, distributed, and container computing platforms (e.g. AWS, Redshift, EC2, docker) o Machine learning frameworks (e.g. supervised and unsupervised methods such as neural networks, random forests, and generalized linear models) o Strong foundational background in mathematical statistics and probability, with knowledge of advanced statistical modeling and causal inference o Demonstrated ability to apply statistical rigor to large, noisy datasets from first principles; knowledge of multivariate analysis, regression diagnostics, and validation methodologies

Additional Comments The salary for this position is $116,233 plus $4,150 in location pay. As an employee of OAG, you will join a team of dedicated individuals who work to serve the people of our state through a wide variety of occupations. We offer a comprehensive New York state benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits, and family-friendly policies. Additionally, OAG offers a robust Workplace Flexibilities Program with multiple options for employees, including telecommuting (up to two days per week) and alternative work schedules.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The OAG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to workplace diversity.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Name Legal Recruitment Unit

The Research and Analytics Department in the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) is seeking candidates for a full-time Data Scientist position. Data Scientists at OAG bring their skills to bear across a wide variety of cases and investigations. The Data Scientist will utilize a vast array of tools to explore datasets, develop new databases, and use statistical modeling to detect anomalies in information pertinent to OAG investigations. The goal of the Data Scientist at OAG is to ensure that our most complicated cases and policy arenas have the benefit of advanced analytical tools, methodologies, and strategic thinking to understand how otherwise elusive trends can be laid bare once we dive into the underlying data.

Purview: As part of an innovative team housed in the Executive Division, you will work with senior staff and divisions throughout OAG to support OAG’s major initiatives, investigations, and policy development. Our team researches and writes analytical reports garnering national attention, directs multi-million-dollar grant programs, and supports OAG’s major investigations. See for example: lawsuit against auto lender for deceptive practices, preliminary report on NYPD response to Protests, JUUL lawsuit and remediation, opioids lawsuit, lawsuit preserving affordable housing from illegal kickback scheme, and the FCC fake comments report. Utilizing a vast collection of public and confidential information, you will work with data covering the breadth of OAG’s purview building advanced analytic tools to inform investigations that affect the lives of all New Yorkers.

Employing over 2,000 people across New York state, OAG is both the “People’s Lawyer” and the state’s chief legal officer. The Data Scientist will support OAG work in numerous legal and regulatory arenas, including protecting the rights of investors and consumers, coordinating state-wide criminal investigations, promoting civil rights, economic and social justice, encouraging harm-reducing public health strategies, and preserving the state’s environment. The OAG also advises the Executive branch of state government and defends actions and proceedings on behalf of the state.