Trial Attorney - II (0014)

Septa • Philadelphia, PA

6d • $104,000 - $130,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is seeking to hire a candidate for our Trial Attorney - II (0014). This role handles all aspects of litigation from inception to trial, primarily responsible for the litigation of major cases filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and cases filed in the Compulsory Arbitration Program. The attorney may also litigate cases in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and county courts, and participate in the private mediation of major cases. This position interacts directly with judges, mediators, opposing counsel, SEPTA employees, witnesses, and outside experts. The case load consists of major cases with a maximum exposure of $250,000 per cause of action, and arbitration cases with a maximum exposure of $50,000 per cause of action (expanding to $250,000 if appealed).

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school in the United States and four (4) or more years of experience in the legal field is required.
• Some prior litigation practice experience specifically related to personal injury and property defense of trial cases is required.
• Admission to practice law in Pennsylvania is required.
• Candidate must display a high degree of professionalism and competence.

Nice To Haves

• Admission to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is preferred.
• Substantive non-lawyer work experience (such as legal internship, law clerk, paralegal or experience in functional areas such as Claims, Contract Administration or Human Resources and/or other relevant transit experience) may serve as an equivalent for some of the required years of legal experience listed above.

Responsibilities

• Reviews facts and circumstances of assigned civil actions to identify applicable legal theories and devises appropriate litigation strategies, and makes recommendations to supervisors or General Counsel on legal theories and litigation strategies.
• Assesses and makes recommendations to supervisors or General Counsel as to whether a case is appropriate for settlement, based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances and the overall strength of the case.
• Undertakes all discovery and investigation efforts in accordance with departmental litigation protocols and management directions. Such efforts may include interviewing witnesses, answering written discovery, filing timely and presenting motions (including those to compel response to discovery requests), arranging defense examinations of plaintiffs, arranging for engineering reports, producing and accompanying witnesses for depositions, obtaining medical records and other evidence, and determining that all relevant business records (both internal and external) necessary to the defense or evaluation of the claim have been obtained. The attorney will work with the Claims Department, other departments in SEPTA and/or outside sources to prepare the case for arbitration or trial.
• Under the direction of the supervisor or General Counsel, and within designated settlement authority, communicates with opposing counsel to attempt to settle cases, as appropriate.
• Prepares, issues, submits, files as appropriate, and in a timely manner, answers all motions, discovery responses, correspondence, memoranda for the Court, letters, and any other documents necessary for each case.
• Prepares internal case management documentation throughout the entire litigation process, as called for under departmental protocols and management direction. Examples include, but are not limited to, attorney case summary reports and post-trial reports containing recommendations for filing post-trial motions and/or appeals.
• Attends all court-ordered conferences, including Case Management conferences on major cases, settlement conferences and all pre-trial conferences.
• Works with supervisors or General Counsel to assess the progress of the case up to the time of settlement or trial and makes recommendations to management about any beneficial modifications or strategies prior to trial, post-trial or prior to filing an appeal.
• Works with supervisors or General Counsel to review and reflect upon trial performance and results for trial cases.
• Makes recommendations as to whether an appeal should be filed.
• Makes recommendations to management regarding additional discovery or investigation activities, or changes to litigation strategy, that may be useful or needed for a trial or appeal.
• Works with secretaries, paralegals, and other support staff to optimally prepare a case.
• Assists in the management of cases that are passed to outside counsel, and, at times, work with outside counsel in the handling of such cases.
• May be called upon to supervise law students and, on occasion less experienced attorneys, who require guidance for an arbitration case, an arbitration appeal or during a major case. Acts as mentor to aspiring attorneys involved in the law student clinical program.
• Assists in the instructing of bus drivers or other SEPTA personnel on being a witness in a litigation matter.
• Works to develop case law on sovereign immunity and other principles that impact directly upon SEPTA's claims pay-outs and overall budget.
• Travels when necessary for depositions, including videotape depositions of experts after normal working hours.
• Complies with all Authority and departmental safety and security policies and procedures as well as all applicable job safety responsibilities. Reports any safety concerns, compromises or hazards affecting operations, the public, self and/or other employees. Responsible for personal safety and is encouraged to promote the safety of others.
• Performs other duties as directed.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage – Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums.
• Retirement Security – Participate in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan to build your financial future.
• Work-Life Balance – Enjoy paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays to recharge and spend time with loved ones.
• Employee Wellness – Access wellness programs and resources to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Invest in Your Growth – We offer tuition reimbursement to support your education and career advancement.
• Student Loan Assistance – Our positions qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you manage and reduce student debt.
• Free Travel Perks – Receive a FREE SEPTA Transportation Pass, giving you unlimited access to all SEPTA services!

What This Job Offers

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