Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy City Solicitor – Regulatory Law Unit – Right-of-Way & Utilities Division

City of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

8d • $83,945 - $117,022 • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Philadelphia Law Department is seeking a licensed Pennsylvania attorney for an Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy City Solicitor position in the Right-of-Way & Utilities Division of the Regulatory Law Unit. The attorney will advise City departments, commissioners, directors, and City Council on transactional and compliance matters that support City operations. The work includes applying federal, Pennsylvania, and City laws and regulations to contract terms and structure, public safety, transportation and utility law, and other day-to-day legal issues. The attorney will also support the Environmental Division through enforcement litigation and regulatory counsel on permitting matters. The role suits a multidisciplinary generalist able to provide litigation, regulatory, and transactional support to clients with diverse needs.

The Right-of-Way & Utilities Division advises the Streets Department, the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, the Municipal Energy Office, and the Art Commission, and represents these offices in transactional and regulatory matters. Its work includes grant and reimbursement agreements, City Plan changes, transportation issues, ordinances and regulations, energy procurement, matters before the Public Utility Commission and other administrative boards, and complex commercial, professional services, infrastructure, development, and public works matters. The attorney may also receive assignments supporting the Environmental Division, whose clients include Air Management Services, the Sanitation Department, and the Office of Sustainability.

The position is fully onsite, with employees expected to report in person five days per week. The successful candidate must become a City of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire. Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume.

Requirements

• Assistant City Solicitor candidates must have at least one year of relevant experience in a legal setting; entry-level candidates may be considered.
• Deputy City Solicitor candidates must have at least four years of relevant legal experience, including some or most of the work described under Essential Functions.
• A law degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Must be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar or currently eligible for admission by reciprocity under Pa.B.A.R. 204. Attorneys not admitted in Pennsylvania within six months of hire may remain employed at the Law Department’s discretion.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify and analyze legal issues in complex fact patterns.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and diplomatically in writing and orally, including explaining complex legal matters to colleagues and clients.
• Ability to handle time-sensitive, complex negotiations with sophisticated opposing counsel.
• Ability to draft and negotiate nuanced language consistent with the City’s legal and policy framework.
• Ability to prioritize and manage a substantial, complex workload of regulatory and transactional matters.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the ability to foster a collegial, inclusive, and professional work environment.
• Excellent judgment and critical thinking.
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and City of Philadelphia agency rules and processes.
• Must report onsite five days per week.
• Must become a City of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire.
• Submit a cover letter and resume.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of environmental laws.
• Experience with government procurement contracting.
• Experience with government legislative and regulatory processes.

Responsibilities

• Advise and represent City departments, particularly the Streets Department, Sanitation Department, OTIS, the Municipal Energy Office, the Art Commission, Air Management Services, and the Office of Sustainability.
• Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations affecting client departments, including the Philadelphia Code, the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, and federal, state, and local regulations.
• Conduct legal research, draft legal opinions, and analyze legal issues related to the Division’s work.
• Advise client departments on new legislation and proposed regulations.
• Draft regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements, including professional services contracts, grant agreements, public works contracts, public-private partnership agreements, development agreements, and memoranda of understanding.
• Participate in meetings with client offices and coordinate with other City departments, including Water, Risk, Tax, Finance, and the Office of Economic Opportunity.
• Represent the City in administrative board hearings and, with the Litigation Group, in other litigation involving client departments.
• Keep abreast of changes to the City’s form contract and solicitation documents.
• Perform administrative functions related to the practice of law.
• Foster and maintain a collegial, inclusive, and professional work environment that recognizes and values diversity.
• As needed, advise and represent Air Management Services in enforcement matters and on air-emission permits and licenses.
• As needed, advise on and handle compliance matters under local, state, and federal environmental laws regulating municipal functions, such as underground tanks and waste disposal.
• Support Environmental Division work by litigating enforcement actions and providing regulatory counsel on permitting matters.

Benefits

• Unlimited free public transportation year-round through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program.
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave.
• Comprehensive health coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Eligibility for a discounted medical plan through the wellness program.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Retirement savings options.
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Tuition discounts and scholarships through partnerships with local colleges and universities, with discounts of 10% to 40% in some cases for employees and, in some cases, spouses and dependents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree