Assistant City Solicitor - Civil Rights Unit Details

Assistant City Solicitor - Civil Rights Unit

City of Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA

Employment Type : Full-Time

Company Description

With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and opportunities in more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia is the sixth-largest city in the United States and one of the largest employers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As an employer, the City of Philadelphia operates through the guiding principles of service, integrity, respect, accountability, collaboration, diversity and inclusion. Through these principles, we strive to effectively deliver services, to resolve the challenges facing our city, and to make Philadelphia a place where all of our residents have the opportunity to reach their potential.

Agency Description

The Law Department's civil practice includes unique issues involving public interest. Our lawyers help chart the course for the City in business, health, safety, commerce, civil rights, taxation, and community development. The Litigation Group includes the Affirmative & Special Litigation Unit, Appeals Unit, Civil Rights Unit, Code & Public Nuisance Litigation Unit, Labor & Employment Unit, and Tort Litigation Unit.

The Civil Rights Unit represents the City of Philadelphia and its employees in federal and state court. The CRU handles all lawsuits alleging that the City and its employees violated an individual’s constitutional rights or engaged in an intentional tort. In addition to its litigation responsibilities, the Civil Rights Unit counsels City Departments regarding issues with potential civil rights implications. Working mostly with the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, and at times the Department of Human Services, members of the Civil Rights Unit routinely discuss policy changes and implications with those client departments. Developing this considered advice involves all members of the Unit, who participate in the after-action review process through which the team discusses, compiles, and shares advice gleaned from litigation with the client departments.

The City of Philadelphia Law Department is seeking to hire an attorney with 1-5 years of litigation experience as an Assistant City Solicitor in the Civil Rights Unit. This is an entry-level position that provides the successful candidate an opportunity to manage cases from start to finish. All pleadings, discovery, and motions are developed by the assigned attorney, who also serves as the first chair at trial in the event the case does not resolve via motion or settlement. Consequently, prior civil litigation experience and/or a federal clerkship are preferred, and applicants must be members of the Pennsylvania Bar. The ideal candidate has good academic credentials and strong communication, analytical, and writing skills. Because attorneys in the Civil Rights Unit reasonably expect to try between three and seven cases a year in federal or state court and/or participate in virtual court proceedings, comfort with public speaking and a desire to hone oral advocacy skills are preferred.

The duties of an Assistant City Solicitor in the Civil Rights Unit primarily consist of litigating federal and state court actions from the pleading stage through trial or arbitration, as well as subsequent analysis of certain cases. These duties encompass:

• Trying federal and state court cases before a jury or judge;
• Representing the City and employees at arbitrations;
• Taking and defending depositions;
• Attending court conferences and hearings;
• Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs;
• Researching and analyzing complex legal issues;
• Participating in analyses of policies currently in place; and
• Developing, with the team, proposed policy or practice modifications for consideration by the clients as a result of lessons learned through litigation.

• The candidate should have at least 1-5 years of litigation experience
• Law degree at an accredited law school and member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar
• A resident of the City of Philadelphia within 6 months of hire

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and processes
• 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.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues and clients
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity in the office that values all individuals and respects difference
• Excellent research and writing skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to identify and analyze legal issues within complex fact patterns
• Ability to organize and maintain a relatively high-volume caseload

Successful candidate must be a City resident within six months of hire

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Anne Taylor, Chief Deputy City Solicitor, Civil Rights Unit (anne.taylor@phila.gov).

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age,disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to pchr@ phila.gov. For more information, go to: Human Relations Website at: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations