Description:
Basic Function:The Office of Attorney General (OAG) is a respected institution dedicated to legal excellence and service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to offering the opportunity for meaningful work, employment with the OAG includes top-tier health care options, retirement plans, generous paid time off, and good work-life balance, including telework options described above. Employees enjoy a dynamic and supportive work environment that fosters professional growth and development.
The Torts Litigation Section plays a critical role in protecting the interests of the Commonwealth and its agencies. This position involves complex, high-stakes litigation covering personal injury and property damage claims that often shape state policy and have broad public impact. Most of these cases involve claims against PennDOT for death or serious bodily injury resulting from the allegedly defective design, construction, or maintenance of state highways. This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who wants to handle their own caseload, gain significant courtroom experience, and work collaboratively with dedicated professionals across state government.
This position entails the performance of moderate to advanced legal activities of a difficult nature, including preparing for and putting on cases for trial and arbitration. The successful candidate will be responsible for handling their own case list including all aspects of litigation defense for the cases assigned and will work closely with attorneys and professionals within the Office of Attorney General and the defendant state agencies. Applicants should possess strong academic credentials, excellent written and oral communication skills, an interest in current legal and policy issues, and the organizational skills necessary to manage multiple cases simultaneously. The employee will report to a Senior Deputy Attorney General in their assigned office.
Examples of Duties:
- Handles entire litigation of assigned tort actions filed in the Courts of Common Pleas of Philadelphia and Bucks counties.
- Conducts legal research and prepares and files pleadings, motions, briefs, memoranda, and other legal filings required to defend Commonwealth agency clients
- Attends and participates in oral arguments, hearings, and court conferences
- Examines and analyzes documents in order to determine legal sufficiency and strategy
- Works closely with state agency clients to review and interpret their regulations and policies to determine defense posture
- Interviews witnesses and involved parties
- Travels to accident sites to review and evaluate liability and defense strategy
- Prepares and responds to discovery requests and attends and/or conducts depositions
- Works with liability and damage expert witnesses to secure expert reports and testimony
- Prepares for, and participates as “first chair counsel” or “second chair counsel” in, mediations, arbitrations, bench trials, and jury trials
- Performs other duties as required
Minimum Experience and Training
Deputy Attorney General I:
Graduation from an accredited school of law and admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Deputy Attorney General II:
Graduation from an accredited school of law, admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in professional legal work.
