Deputy City Solicitor - Tort Litigation Unit

The attorney will be responsible for defending 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 Major Jury cases. The attorney will be responsible for independently conducting intensive discovery and investigation of tort claims, conduct and defend depositions, attend court conferences, draft appropriate pleadings, court memoranda, discovery, and dispositive motions. Knowledge of the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act and prior experience taking and defending depositions and conducting arbitrations and trials is necessary. The attorney will work with experts (e.g., engineers, medical doctors) and ultimately represent the City at trial, arbitration or ADR. The Major Trials Division is a fast-paced, challenging litigation Division in which attorneys are, with appropriate supervision, expected to independently manage their case files from initial pleadings through settlement or trial and manage their litigation calendars.

Essential Functions

In addition to the Position Summary, responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• 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
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Analyze probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents
• Negotiate settlements
• Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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.
• Ability to support and supervise a team of attorneys and professional staff.
• Ability to train professional legal staff as well as non-legal staff on applicable legal requirements.
• 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;

Requirements

• This is an intermediate level position, with a minimum of approximately four (4) 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, and must either be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar, or eligible to become a member of the Pennsylvania Bar within six (6) months.