Assistant City Solicitor, Civil Rights Unit (Overturned Conviction Division)

Job description

Job Description

The City of Philadelphia Law Department is seeking to hire an attorney with 1-5 years of litigation experience as an Assistant City Solicitor in the Civil Rights Unit, specifically within the Overturned Convictions Division. The candidate will have opportunities to handle jury trials, and to handle the complex discovery and motions practice associated with litigations arising out of overturned convictions. Consequently, prior civil litigation experience and/or a federal clerkship are preferred, and applicants must be members of the Pennsylvania Bar. The ideal candidate has good academic credentials and strong communication, analytical, and writing skills. The candidate will also have opportunities to serve as a second chair on cases that move more quickly to trial, and comfort with public speaking and a desire to hone oral advocacy skills are preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

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

* Trying federal and state court cases before a jury or judge;
* Representing the City and employees at arbitrations;
* Taking and defending depositions;
* Attending court conferences and hearings;
* Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs;
* Researching, analyzing, and briefing complex legal issues;
* Developing processes for efficient organization of larger case files;
* Participating in analyses of policies currently in place; and
* Developing, with the team, proposed policy or practice modifications for consideration by the clients as a result of lessons learned through litigation.

COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

* Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, 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
* Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues and clients
* Demonstrate a commitment to diversity in the office that values all individuals and respects difference
* Excellent research and writing skills
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to identify and analyze legal issues within complex fact patterns