Deputy City Solicitor - Code & Public Nuisance Litigation Unit

Deputy City Solicitor - Code & Public Nuisance Litigation Unit

The City of Philadelphia Law Department is seeking to hire an attorney with five or more years of litigation experience as a Deputy City Solicitor in the Code & Public Nuisance Litigation Unit. The attorney would bring affirmative litigation on behalf of the City of Philadelphia primarily in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for violations arising from the Philadelphia Code. The attorney will also be responsible for representing the City of Philadelphia before the Board of Licenses and Inspection Review, Tax Review Board, and/or Zoning Board of Adjustment, along with any appeals to the Court of Common Pleas from those administrative agency decisions. The attorney will also defend the City or bring on behalf of the City emergency injunctive actions arising under the Philadelphia Code in the Court of Common Pleas or before the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This position requires the attorney to manage a large caseload. The attorney will need to engage in all aspects of litigation to prepare and present cases before the Philadelphia Court system.

Essential functions include advising and representing the City of Philadelphia and our employees before government agencies and in legal matters, presenting evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in code enforcement litigation, communicating with clients, colleagues, judges, and others involved in the case, conducting research and analysis of legal problems, studying federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, interpreting laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals, and government agencies, presenting facts in writing and verbally to their clients or others and arguing on behalf of the clients, preparing and filing legal documents, such as preliminary objections, answers, dispositive motions, and appellate briefs in statutory appeals, analyzing probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents, negotiating settlements, and performing administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.

Competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities include 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, 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, ability to organize and maintain a relatively high-volume caseload, and ability to work independently.

This is an intermediate level position, with a minimum of approximately five (5) plus years of legal experience relevant to the subject matter and/or responsibilities 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 of hire is at the discretion of the Law Department.

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. 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.