Short answer. A NYC Local Law 144 bias audit is more than an impact-ratio calculation. A defensible process identifies the AEDT and use case, reviews auditor independence, validates the data basis, applies the required calculation path, checks demographic analyses and exceptions, completes professional QA, and produces a technical audit record plus public-summary support.

StepAudit objective
1–2Confirm scope, independence, data source and evidence.
3–4Control demographic states and select the correct calculation path.
5–6Run required demographic analyses and review any <2% category treatment.
7–8Complete professional QA and prepare technical/public reporting outputs.
AUDITLL144 eight-step Local Law 144 bias audit process Eight connected steps: scope and independence, data evidence, demographic controls, calculation path, demographic analyses, less-than-two-percent review, professional quality assurance, and reporting. LL144 bias audit workflow 1 · Scope & independenceuse case + relationships 2 · Data evidencepopulation + provenance 3 · Demographic controlsno inference 4 · Calculation pathselection vs scoring 5 · Required analysessex · race/ethnicity · intersectional 6 · <2% reviewdocumented judgment 7 · Professional QAreproduce + review 8 · Reportingtechnical + public summary
AUDITLL144 separates engagement scope, data controls, calculations, professional review and reporting so the audit can be reproduced and explained instead of treated as a single spreadsheet calculation.

1. How do we confirm scope and auditor independence?

We identify the AEDT, the hiring or promotion workflow, the output type, the relevant organization/vendor relationships and whether the proposed engagement presents an independence issue under 6 RCNY §5-300.

The audit software does not automatically decide legal scope or auditor independence. Those are professional review questions.

2. What data source and evidence does the audit need?

DCWP treats historical data as the ordinary basis for a bias audit and permits test data in specified circumstances when sufficient historical data is unavailable. The summary of results must explain the source and data used.

We document the source dataset, output meaning, relevant population, demographic fields and the basis for any use of test data.

3. How are demographic fields handled without inference?

DCWP's FAQ states that imputed or inferred demographic data cannot be used to conduct the audit. Lexara therefore does not infer sex or race/ethnicity from names, photographs, geography, language, resumes or similar proxies.

Source values are preserved and mapped only through explicit controlled rules. Unknown, declined, missing and outside-taxonomy states are not silently converted into an analytical category.

4. Which Local Law 144 calculation path applies?

For AEDTs that select candidates to move forward or classify candidates into groups, the rules require selection rates and impact ratios. For AEDTs that score candidates, the rules require the full-sample median, scoring rates and impact ratios. AUDITLL144 maintains separate implemented methods for these output families.

5. Which demographic analyses are required?

Applicable calculations are performed separately across sex categories, race/ethnicity categories and intersectional sex × race/ethnicity categories. For classification outputs, required analysis is performed for each specified classification group where the controlled methodology supports the output.

6. How is the less-than-2% category rule reviewed?

DCWP permits an independent auditor to exclude a category representing less than 2% of the data from required impact-ratio calculations. Exclusion is not automatic. When invoked, required count/rate information and the auditor's justification remain reportable.

7. What happens during professional calculation review?

Deterministic calculations are reviewed against the exact evidence and methodology state. The platform is designed not to convert an impact ratio into a legal conclusion such as “pass,” “fail,” “bias free” or “discriminatory.”

8. What does the final reporting package include?

Audit outputs are structured to support both technical review and the information needed for the public summary under 6 RCNY §5-303. The employer or employment agency remains responsible for making the required information publicly available before covered use.

What should you send first for an LL144 audit?

Last legally reviewed: September 27, 2026.

Primary sources: NYC DCWP AEDT · Admin. Code §20-870 · 6 RCNY §5-300 · 6 RCNY §5-301

Check AEDT signals Check data readiness Request an independent bias audit

Want to see the output before engaging? Open the synthetic technical report or the synthetic public Summary of Results.