Chief Deputy City Solicitor - Civil Rights Unit

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Agency Description

The City of Philadelphia Law Department acts as general counsel for the entire City government structure. We provide legal advice to all City officials, employees, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions concerning any matters related to the exercise of their official powers.

The Law Department's civil practice includes unique issues involving public interest in business, health, safety, commerce, civil rights, taxation, and community development. We employ more than 280 attorneys and 120 professional staff to support seamless operations, reduce legal liability for the City, and challenge threats to quality of life impacting the taxpayers of Philadelphia.

We are an ever-evolving Department where all are empowered to reach their full potential, to collaborate with clients as true partners, and to see their work have a real impact on the city of Philadelphia. We celebrate the diversity of our staff, the City’s workforce, and the residents whom we serve and promote an environment of comradery, accountability, and inclusiveness.

The Litigation Group includes the Affirmative & General Litigations Unit, Civil Rights Unit, Tort Litigation Unit, Code Enforcement Unit, Labor & Employment Unit and Appeals Unit. The Civil Rights Unit (“CRU”) represents the City of Philadelphia and its employees in federal and state court. The CRU handles all lawsuits alleging that the City and its employees violated an individual’s constitutional rights or engaged in an intentional tort. The team also manages the negligence cases alleging that the City negligently created circumstances giving rise to the sexual assault of juveniles, pursuant to the Ninth Exception to immunity in the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act.

In addition to its litigation responsibilities, the Civil Rights Unit counsels City Departments regarding issues with potential civil rights implications. Working most with the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, and the Department of Human Services, members of the CRU discuss policy changes and implications with those client departments as needed. Developing this considered advice can involve all members of the Unit, who participate in the after-action review process through which the team discusses, compiles, and shares advice gleaned from litigation with the client departments.

Professional Responsibility & Public Service 

We serve the residents of Philadelphia by providing excellent legal counsel as trustworthy partners to our clients, no matter the challenges we face. Our work frequently involves sensitive matters, confidential information, and communication with City officials and client agencies. All staff are expected to work collectively to demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and a strong commitment to public service.

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Chief Deputy City Solicitor of the Civil Rights Unit is the head of the Unit. This is a management level position that involves running the civil rights practice of one of the largest municipalities in the country. Responsibilities include managing and supervising a team of three (3) managing attorneys, and approximately twenty (20) trial attorneys and seven (7) non-attorney staff members as they represent the City in some of its highest-exposure litigation matters.

The Chief Deputy represents the City and its officials in significant jury trials and settlement negotiations in civil rights matters. The Chief Deputy advises the Unit’s attorneys on trial and settlement strategy, and authorizes settlement of the Unit’s cases when in the best interest of the City. The Chief Deputy also serves as a liaison to outside counsel in high-exposure constitutional and Ninth Exception to the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act cases, facilitating discovery, motions practice, and settlement negotiation in those matters. 

The Unit’s primary clients are the Police Department and Department of Prisons. The Chief Deputy City Solicitor advises directly high-ranking officials in those departments, including the Police Commissioner and the Prisons Commissioner. 

Essential Functions 

The functions listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this role. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or essential functions. Duties may be modified, assigned, or reassigned as operational needs evolve, consistent with applicable law. 

• Managing and supervising all attorneys and administrative personnel in the Unit. 

• Coaching employees to enhance their courtroom presentation of cases, as well as their relationship development with both clients and the bench. 

• Appearing regularly in federal and state court for settlement conferences before judges in cases where the City’s potential liability is substantial. 

• Sitting first or second chair in federal or state-court jury trials. 

• Overseeing the Unit’s Settlement Committee meetings, where case strategy and settlement authority for major and minor cases are discussed. 

• Ensuring that the Unit is providing proactive legal counseling to the Police Department, Department of Prisons, and other City departments and agencies. 

• Meeting regularly with the Police Commissioner and Prisons Commissioner.

• Exploring risk mitigation strategies through use of data, case studies, and after-action reviews. 

• Exploring ways to improve efficiency and processes through the use of technology. 

• Arranging mock juries to test liability in cases that are set for trial. 

• Fostering and maintaining a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that values all forms of diversity. 

• Participating in external efforts to raise the profile of the Unit and the Law Department. 

• Developing and updating a rigorous training program for new attorneys. 

• Working closely with clients to assure compliance with applicable federal and state law. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Knowledge of applicable laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules and process, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn; 

• 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 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 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; 

Qualifications

• This is a senior/supervisory level position, with a minimum of (9) plus years of legal experience relevant to the subject matter and/or responsibilities the unit requires.

• The successful candidate will have significant jury trial experience, as well as significant experience making complex factual and legal presentations to the court. 

• 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 of hire is at the discretion of the Law Department. 

Work Location & Onsite Expectations 

This position is designated as fully onsite and employees are expected to report in person five (5) days per week, in accordance with the City Policy. Regular on-site presence is an operational requirement of this role.

Who Thrives in This Role 

This position is well-suited for candidates who are adaptable, collaborative, comfortable making decisions in real time, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high standard of professionalism in a fast-paced, in-person environment. 

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $148,816 to $175,756 – Commensurate with education and experience

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Anne B. Taylor, Chair, Litigation Group ( View email address on us.fitly.work ). 

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*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.

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