Assistant City Solicitor - Child Welfare Unit

Philadelphia PA; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 84,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Transportation benefits

Parental leave 8 weeks

Comprehensive health coverage

Wellness program

Job summary

The City of Philadelphia Law Department seeks an Assistant City Solicitor for the Child Welfare Unit to handle dependency, permanency, and termination of parental rights matters in Family Court. The role emphasizes public service, rigorous research, and strong writing for DHS representations and related court proceedings.

The successful candidate will manage a substantial case load, work onsite five days a week, and contribute to protecting vulnerable children while developing courtroom skills

Qualifications

• Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar or eligible by reciprocity.
• Entry-level position; one year plus of relevant legal experience preferred.
• Excellent research and writing skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Litigating Dependency Cases in Family Court (bench trials).
• Litigating permanency hearings for children adjudicated dependent in Family Court.
• Litigating termination of parental rights/adoption cases in Family Court.
• Representing DHS at the Pennsylvania DHS Bureau of Hearings and Appeals in expungement matters.
• Preparing DHS files for review by parents, counsel, and other parties requesting these files.
• Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; researching and analyzing complex legal issues.
• Maintain high-volume caseload and work independently with supervision.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Courtroom skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA accredited)

Bar admission Pennsylvania

Job description

Assistant City Solicitor - Child Welfare Unit

• Full-time
• Compensation: USD 83,945 - USD 94,686 - yearly

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact- The work you do here matters to millions.
• Growth- Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
• Diversity & Inclusion- Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits- We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The City of Philadelphia Law Department serves as general counsel to the entire City government. Weprovidelegal 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 290attorneys and 130professional staff to support seamless operations, reduce the City's legal liability, and address threats to the quality of lifeimpactingthe 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 tangible impact on the city of Philadelphia. We celebrate the diversity of our staff, the City’s workforce, and the residents we serve, and we promote an environment of camaraderie, accountability, and inclusiveness.

The Law Department's Child Welfare Unit (CWU)representsthe City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) in all aspects of its work in investigating reports of child abuse and child neglect and providing services to children and families in need. The CWU is a collegial, fast-paced,and challenging unit in which, withappropriate trainingand supervision, attorneys areexpectedto manage their case files from start to finish independently.

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 workfrequentlyinvolves sensitive matters, confidential information, andcommunicationwith City officialsandclient agencies. All staff are expected towork collectively todemonstrateprofessionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and a strong commitment to public service.

PositionSummary

The ideal candidate has good academic credentials andstrong communication, analytical, and writing skills.Assistants in the CWU will have the opportunity to handle a substantial case load withina short periodof their arrival in the CWU and will be charged with court room duties after a one-month training interval.This position is ideal for candidates looking to improve and develop their court room skills while at the same timeassistingtheCityin protecting some of its most vulnerable citizens.

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 bemodified, assigned, or reassigned as operational needs evolve, consistent with applicable law.

Litigating Dependency Cases in Family Court in Bench Trials;

Litigating Permanency Hearings for Childrenadjudicateddependent in Family Court;

Litigating Termination of Parental Rights/Adoption Cases in Family Court;

RepresentingDHS at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bureau of Hearings and Appeals in Expungement matters;

Preparing DHS files for review by parents, counsel, and other parties requesting these files;

Litigating motions to quash subpoenas for DHS records;

Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; and

Researching and analyzing complex legal issues.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills,and Abilities

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agencyrulesand process.

Abilityto analyzelarge amountsof information,determinerelevant facts, and proposeviablesolutions.

Abilityto 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 andlisten, 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 toidentifyand analyze legal issues within complex fact patterns.

Ability to organize andmaintainarelatively high-volumecaseload.

Ability to work independently.

This is an entry level position but one (1) year plus of relevant experience within a legal setting is preferred.

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) monthsofhire is at the discretion of the Law Department.

This position isdesignatedas fully onsite,andemployees areexpected to report in person five (5) days per week,in accordance withthe 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,comfortablemakingreal-time decisions, and able to manage competing priorities whilemaintaininga high standard of professionalism in a fast-paced, in-person environment.

Salary Range: $83,945 to $94,686 – Commensurate with education and experience.

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Karen Fortune, Chief Deputy City Solicitor, Child WelfareUnit ( [e-mail] ).

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 8weeks 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 [e-mail].

By clicking the link above or any third-party link within this posting, you are leaving this site and going to a third-party website where the third-party website's terms and privacy policy apply