Assistant Solicitor - Labor and Employment Attorney

City of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Pittsburgh Department of Law is seeking an experienced attorney to join its Labor and Employment practice group. Our attorneys play a critical role in advising, counseling, and representing the City of Pittsburgh in connection with legal issues arising from the City’s diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees in various City departments. This position represents the City in collective bargaining negotiations, grievance administration, labor arbitrations, and proceedings before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB). The position also provides guidance and representation to the City with respect to its management of non-union employees. Labor and Employment group attorneys are generalists in the field of labor and employment, and handle a diverse range of administrative proceedings and litigation. In addition to litigation responsibilities, the attorney provides strategic legal advice to City departments and officials on risk mitigation, policy development, and compliance with local, state, and federal law. This position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact matters involving significant legal and public policy issues, requiring sound judgment, strong advocacy skills, and the ability to manage a varied and demanding caseload in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. The City of Pittsburgh Law Department serves as general counsel to the entire City government. We provide legal advice to the Mayor, City Council, City officials and employees, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions. The attorneys of the Law Department represent the City and its officials in litigation, including at trial and in appellate matters in state and federal courts. The Law Department also represents the City as a municipal corporation in drafting legislation, negotiating and documenting transactions, handling real estate matters, and advising on operational matters. The Law Department is located in the City-County Building (Pittsburgh’s “City Hall”), 414 Grant Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The Law Department offers a dynamic, collegial environment for the practice of law.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate Degree
• Active Pennsylvania license on the start date.
• At least five (5) years of full-time, paid legal experience in labor and employment law.
• Must become residents of the City of Pittsburgh prior to employment and remain residents throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

• Management side of labor negotiations, grievances, arbitrations, litigation, and related proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Represents the City in grievances and arbitrations filed by Union employees or their Union.
• Maintains and develops expertise about laws, regulations, contracts, and court decisions affecting municipal employment and labor issues.
• Researches legal issues and prepares legal memorandum, correspondence, pleadings, motions, petitions, and discovery.
• Conducts discovery, including corresponding with opposing counsel, hearings, motions, and arguments.
• Conducts trials and appeals of proceedings in state or federal courts on labor and employment cases as assigned.
• Analyzes probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
• Negotiates settlements.
• Performs activities, functions, and other tasks and duties as assigned or required by the City Solicitor.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior