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Eileen Millett, an attorney specializing in environmental law who's held several key positions in government offices and private practice, will take the next step in her career later this month as the new counsel to the New York State Office of Court Administration.

Millett, who is leaving her post as a partner at Phillips Nizer, replaces John McConnell, who has since been named as the new executive director of OCA after Barry Clarke retired from that position last month.

Her last day at the firm was Tuesday, according to an email Millett sent to colleagues obtained by the New York Law Journal.

"Today is my last day with the firm," Millett wrote. "I am excited and challenged by the opportunity of taking on the responsibility of being the highest ranking non judicial person in the court system, and managing a small law office."

Her appointment was announced internally last week by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks, according to a memo from OCA. Nancy Barry, director of human resources at OCA, was also elevated to chief of operations, according to the memo.

Marks had kind words for Millett in the memo, which was sent to the various administrative judges, clerks, and other court personnel around the state.

"Eileen is an attorney of broad experience in both public service and private practice and she is exceedingly well regarded in the legal community," Marks wrote.

He touched on her work with the Queens District Attorney's Office, where she started her legal career four decades ago. She went on to work as an assistant attorney general in the New York Attorney General's Office, assistant counsel for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and inspector general for the New York City Department of Investigation.

She worked in various other government-related positions with the New York City Police Department and Interstate Environmental Commission, until she entered private practice in 2007.

That's when Millett joined Gibbons, where she worked as a partner for two years before moving over to Epstein Becker & Green. She was with that firm for six years before a short stint at Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper in New Jersey.

For the past two and a half years, Millett has worked as a partner at Phillips Nizer in the New York City area, where she's been counsel to clients managing environmental risks and compliance with regulations.

Outside her paid work, Millett is also an elected fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, a vice chairwoman of the American Bar Association Business Law Section, Environment Committee, and is a member of the executive council of the New York State Bar Association's environmental section. She also previously chaired the New York City Bar Association's Environmental Law Committee.

Millett's appointment will take effect on Oct. 29, according to OCA.

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