Description:
The position of Deputy City Solicitor of the Affirmative & Special Litigation Unit requires an attorney experienced in commercial and complex litigation matters capable of managing and handling individual cases on their own, being a key team member on the Unit's most significant cases, and advising the Unit's many clients on litigation and settlement issues and strategies. In addition, the Deputy City Solicitor is expected to execute on opportunities identified by Unit and Law Department leadership to advance the City's interests and improve and expand the work of the Law Department and the Unit. This work includes developing affirmative suits and other innovative approaches to furthering the City's goals.The position of Divisional Deputy City Solicitor has supervisory responsibilities within the Unit in addition to handling litigation and non-litigation matters described above. The Divisional position requires an attorney with strong communication, interpersonal, and management skills. The Divisional will assist the Unit's Chief Deputy in supervising and providing support to attorneys and legal assistants in the Unit, as well as developing and implementing Unit practices and procedures.
And Unit members are expected to work collaboratively with other Unit and Law Department colleagues on all matters in a manner that reflects the Law Department's focus on fostering and maintaining a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that values all forms of diversity.
Essential Functions:
In addition to the Position Summary, responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Appearing in federal and state courts in significant cases and for settlement conferences before judges and mediators in cases where the City's potential liability is substantial.
- Developing potential opportunities for affirmative litigation, particularly cases with the potential to advance City public policy objectives.
- Providing proactive legal counseling to internal clients.
- Researching and drafting all manner of legal issues, filings and litigation documents for Unit cases and projects.
- Participating in case and settlement strategy in major and minor cases.
- Fostering and maintaining a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that values all forms of diversity.
- Participating in external efforts to raise the profile of the Unit and the Law Department.
- Managing non-litigation driven projects
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules and process;
- Ability to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and propose viable solutions;
- Ability to find what applicable laws and regulations apply to a specific matter;
- Ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. Must be able to clearly present and explain their case to arbitrators, mediators, opposing parties, judges, or juries and listen, answer questions, present to large groups and high-level officials and employ diplomacy in challenging situations.
- Ability to effectively communicate complex rules and procedures to the public and to businesses.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to identify and analyze legal issues within complex fact patterns.
- Ability to foster and maintain a collegial, inclusive, and professional work environment.
- Excellent writing, case management, negotiating, and trial skills.
- Ability to support and supervise a team of attorneys and professional staff.
- Ability to train professional legal staff as well as non-legal staff on applicable legal requirements.
- Ability to use computer programs such as PowerPoint or MS Office.
- Excellent judgment and critical thinking in high-pressure situations.
- Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues and clients
Qualifications:
- Deputy City Solicitor candidates should have a minimum of four (4) years of relevant legal experience. Legal experience should include some or most of those described under Essential Functions.
- Divisional Deputy City Solicitor candidates should have a minimum of seven (7) years of legal experience and some management or supervisory experience.
- Candidates must have a law degree from an ABA accredited law school, and must either be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar, or eligible to become a member of the Pennsylvania Bar within six (6) months.
