New York City / City Council / Legislative Counsel

Job-title file

Legislative Counsel

Provide legal advice, draft and review documents, and represent the agency in legal matters.

54 employees hold this title in City Council. Median total compensation for the role is $108,215, above the department median of $50,766.

Employees: 54
Total payroll: $5M
Role median: $108,215
Agency median: $50,766
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$16,019$158,078+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 54 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compare jurisdictions

Legislative Counsel beyond New York City

This role is reported in 3 jurisdictions. In New York City, the median of $108,215 ranks #3 of 3. See Legislative Counsel across all of New York City →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

Georgia

$130,250 · 6

Vermont

$117,936 · 18

Median total compensation for comparable Legislative Counselroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Jayasri Ganapathy

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$114,194

Base pay: $113,194
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,194
Hire date: 2018-05-29
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $117,207
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Jayasri Ganapathy holds the role of Legislative Counsel at City Council based in Manhattan. Hired in 2018, they have about 7 years of service. In 2025, their total compensation was $114,194.

Joshua Kingsley

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$112,919

Base pay: $112,919
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,919
Hire date: 2017-03-26
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $116,922
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Joshua Kingsley works as a Legislative Counsel for City Council based in Manhattan. They have served since 2017 (about 8 years). Joshua earned $112,919 in 2025.

Christopher Pepe

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$112,576

Base pay: $112,576
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,576
Hire date: 2019-09-03
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: T

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $116,567
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Christopher Pepe is a Legislative Counsel at City Council based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2019, about 6 years. 2025 total compensation came to $112,576.

Matthew Distefano

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$112,093

Base pay: $112,093
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,093
Hire date: 1998-08-11
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $116,067
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Matthew Distefano works as a Legislative Counsel for City Council based in Manhattan. Hired in 1998, they have about 27 years of service. Matthew earned $112,093 in 2025.

Margaret Lyford

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$111,814

Base pay: $111,814
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,814
Hire date: 2023-01-23
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

At City Council, Margaret Lyford serves as a Legislative Counsel based in Manhattan. Hired in 2023, they have about 2 years of service. Their 2025 pay totaled $111,814.

Julia Goldsmith-Pinkh

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$111,814

Base pay: $111,814
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,814
Hire date: 2022-08-10
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Julia Goldsmith-Pinkh is a Legislative Counsel at City Council based in Manhattan. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service. 2025 total compensation came to $111,814.

Rie Ogasawara

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$111,683

Base pay: $111,683
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,683
Hire date: 2023-05-17
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Rie Ogasawara holds the role of Legislative Counsel at City Council based in Manhattan. Hired in 2023, they have about 2 years of service. In 2025, their total compensation was $111,683.

Sara Sucher

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$111,621

Base pay: $111,621
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,621
Hire date: 2022-08-08
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: O

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Sara Sucher holds the role of Legislative Counsel at City Council based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years. In 2025, their total compensation was $111,621.

Austin Malone

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$111,429

Base pay: $111,429
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,429
Hire date: 2022-06-13
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

At City Council, Austin Malone serves as a Legislative Counsel based in Manhattan. They have served since 2022 (about 3 years). Their 2025 pay totaled $111,429.

Sarah Swaine

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$111,173

Base pay: $111,173
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,173
Hire date: 2022-10-31
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

At City Council, Sarah Swaine serves as a Legislative Counsel based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years. Their 2025 pay totaled $111,173.

Nicholas Widzowski

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$110,973

Base pay: $109,973
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,973
Hire date: 2014-01-02
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

At City Council, Nicholas Widzowski serves as a Legislative Counsel based in Manhattan. They have served since 2014 (about 11 years). Their 2025 pay totaled $110,973.

Nadia Jean-Francois

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$110,903

Base pay: $110,403
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,903
Hire date: 2022-10-24
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

At City Council, Nadia Jean-Francois serves as a Legislative Counsel based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years. Their 2025 pay totaled $110,903.

Matthew Hill

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$110,823

Base pay: $110,823
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,823
Hire date: 2023-01-03
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

At City Council, Matthew Hill serves as a Legislative Counsel based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years. Their 2025 pay totaled $110,823.

Jeremy Whiteman

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$110,660

Base pay: $110,660
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,660
Hire date: 2022-08-08
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Jeremy Whiteman works as a Legislative Counsel for City Council based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years. Jeremy earned $110,660 in 2025.

Alex Paulenoff

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$110,588

Base pay: $110,120
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $468
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,588
Hire date: 2014-04-24
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $114,024
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

At City Council, Alex Paulenoff serves as a Legislative Counsel based in Manhattan. They have served since 2014 (about 11 years). Their 2025 pay totaled $110,588.

Nicole Cata

Legislative Counsel/City Council

2025 total comp

$110,403

Base pay: $110,403
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,403
Hire date: 2023-02-27
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,872
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 102
Regular Hours: 1,820

Nicole Cata holds the role of Legislative Counsel at City Council based in Manhattan. Hired in 2023, they have about 2 years of service. In 2025, their total compensation was $110,403.