Deputy City Solicitor or Senior Attorney - Tort Litigation Unit

City of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Philadelphia Law Department's Tort Litigation Unit represents agencies and employees of the City of Philadelphia Department in civil tort litigation. This includes cases such as representing police officers in motor vehicle accidents involving a police pursuit, defending the Water Department from claims for property damage due to a water main break, and representing City agencies in premises liability claims. The Unit aims to settle legitimate claims quickly and cost-effectively, while vigorously defending claims lacking merit at trial or arbitration. This is a collegial, fast-paced, and challenging unit where Legal Assistants play an integral role. The attorney hired for this position will defend the City of Philadelphia and its employees primarily in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against premises liability, motor vehicle, and property damage claims. The attorney will be responsible for managing a caseload of approximately 75-85 Major Jury cases and independently conducting intensive discovery and investigation of tort claims, conducting and defending depositions, attending court conferences, and drafting appropriate pleadings, court memoranda, discovery, and dispositive motions. The attorney will work with experts and represent the City at trial, arbitration, or ADR. This role involves fast-paced, challenging litigation where attorneys are expected to independently manage their case files from initial pleading through settlement or trial and manage their litigation calendars.

Requirements

• Deputy City Solicitor candidates must have a minimum of five (5) years of relevant legal experience. Legal experience should include some or most of those described under Essential Functions.
• Senior Attorney candidates must have nine (9) plus years of legal experience relevant to the subject matter and/or responsibilities of your unit required.
• Candidates must have a law degree from an ABA accredited law school
• Must be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar, or currently eligible to be admitted by reciprocity to practice in Pennsylvania (Pa.B.A.R. 204).
• 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.
• 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

Nice To Haves

• The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Advise and represent the City of Philadelphia and our employees, before government agencies, and in legal matters
• Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in tort litigation.
• Communicate with clients, colleagues, judges and others involved in the case
• Conduct research and analysis of legal issues
• Study federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations
• Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals, and government agencies
• Present facts in writing and verbally to their clients or others and argue on behalf of the clients
• Prepare and file legal documents, such as preliminary objections, answers and dispositive motions
• Supervise legal assistants
• Analyze probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents
• Negotiate settlements
• Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
• Tuition discounts and scholarships (10% to 40% savings on educational expenses, potentially extending to spouse and dependents)

What This Job Offers

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