N.Y.C. Charter § 395: Section 395. Legal service to agencies.

The corporation counsel may assign an assistant or assistants to any agency. The head of each agency, within appropriations for such purpose, may employ staff counsel to assist in the legal affairs of the agency. No officer or agency, except as provided in this chapter or otherwise especially provided, shall have or employ any attorney or counsel, except where a judgment or order in an action or proceeding may affect such officer or agency individually or may be followed by a motion to commit for contempt of court, in which case such officer or agency may employ and be represented by attorney or counsel at their own expense.