Job Description

The City of Philadelphia Law Department seeks an attorney for the Compliance and Legislation Group’s Compliance Unit. This is an intermediate, non-litigation position that involves providing counsel to DHS, other Office of Children and Families divisions, the Office of Youth Ombudsperson, and potentially other social service/health departments. At the time of hire, applicants must be members of the Pennsylvania Bar. The ideal candidate has 3-7 years of experience, good academic credentials and strong communication, analytical, research and writing skills, and child welfare and/or public policy experience.

Essential Functions

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Advise on policies, procedures, memoranda, and other written materials related to City department and agency strategies and initiatives, directives, and other matters impacting the legal liability of the City.
• Providing legal counseling to City departments and agencies including the Department of Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Free Library, Office of Homeless Services, Office of Youth Ombudsperson, and other City departments and agencies.
• Collaborate with other units in the Law Department, including but not limited to Child Welfare Unit, Civil Rights, and Labor and Employment to coordinate project management, and roles and responsibilities.
• Provide legal assistance by attending meetings, obtaining facts, and reviewing legal issues and documents, to assist in resolving legal questions.
• Synthesize case law, relevant statutes, and state directives to produce written analysis within quick deadlines.
• Stay informed of relevant legal and regulatory changes in the law and anticipate possible impacts on the City.
• Work with clients to implement program initiatives and achieve goals related to legal or compliance efforts, working with interdisciplinary teams.

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. answer questions, present to large groups and high-level officials and employ diplomacy in challenging situations.
• 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.
• Ability to organize and maintain a relatively high-volume of projects.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to use computer programs such as PowerPoint, Teams or MS Office.
• Excellent judgment and critical thinking in high-pressure situations.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• High degree of empathy and ability to resolve interpersonal conflict.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues and clients; Must be able to prioritize workload and solve problems quickly.

Qualifications

• 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 currently eligible to be admitted by reciprocity to practice in Pennsylvania (Pa.B.A.R. 204). Continued employment of attorneys not admitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six (6) months hire is at the discretion of the Law Department.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, writing sample and resume.

Salary Range: $92,612 to $111,385 – Commensurate with education and experience

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

_ *The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire_

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx