Associate General Counsel (Torts)

Taleo; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 108,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

The School District of Philadelphia seeks an Associate General Counsel for the Torts Department to provide strategic legal guidance and representation on a broad range of issues affecting students, staff, and the district.

The role emphasizes tort litigation, exposure to sexual abuse exception matters, and collaboration with the General Counsel and other senior attorneys. Strong judgment, advocacy, and leadership are essential for success in this high-stakes environment.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law.
• Five years of full-time, paid, professional legal experience.
• Experience in public sector law, education law, or tort litigation preferred.
• All work experience related to the position must be included on the resume.

Responsibilities

• Provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Education and the School District on a wide array of issues.
• Oversees projects and develops strategies to resolve legal challenges.
• Specializes in litigation, claims, and labor and employment matters under supervision.
• Defends lawsuits and conducts discovery, prepares witnesses, and argues cases in court.
• Advices in-house clients and drafts legal opinions as needed.

Skills

Litigation management

Legal research

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Job description

Title: Associate General Counsel, Torts Department. General Counsel Reports To: Deputy General Counsel, Labor and Employment Union. Position not represented by Union. Salary Range: $107,655 - $132,713.

The School District of Philadelphia is committed to becoming the fastest improving District in the country and transforming the educational opportunities it offers to our city’s more than 198,000 students. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision.

Will you join us?

Job Summary

Provides legal advice and representation to Board of Education and the School District of Philadelphia and its employees on a wide array of legal issues. Oversees projects and develops innovative strategies to resolve legal challenges. Provides guidance to and oversees work performed by less senior counsel. Works under the supervision of the Senior General Counsel and specializes in litigation, claims, and labor and employment matters.

Essential Functions - Tort Litigation

• Directly handles, oversees and manages lawsuits arising from the sexual abuse exception to immunity to under the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act and other areas of litigation as needed, and develops and implements District-wide litigation strategy consistent with current legal opinions and expert analysis.
• Provides counsel and guidance to the General Counsel, School District Administration and Board of Education on matters related to litigation, including the sexual abuse exception, develops strategies to minimize liability and monitors compliance with policies directed towards identifying and eliminating the sexual abuse of students.
• Represents the School District, the Board of Education and District officers and employees in varied transactions and litigation.
• Serves as a key contributor and handles the most complex legal issues; provides assessments and solutions which are optimal for the School District and the Board of Education.
• Conducts District wide professional development to encourage effective and efficient management controls; participates in and facilitates seminars to effect positive dialogue and relations in school legal matters.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of programs and activities in the Office of General Counsel.
• Prevents legal claims by identifying potential risks and making appropriate recommendations.
• Defends lawsuits and claims by discussing matters with opposing counsel, filing necessary legal papers, conducting extensive discovery proceedings, meeting with and preparing the testimony of witnesses, trying cases or arranging settlements in the best interest of the School District.
• Advise employees by providing legal advice to supervisors and administrators on a daily basis and by issuing legal opinions when requested.
• Assists in the formation of School District practices and procedures through committee participation.
• Provides representation in appellate court proceedings by filing briefs and arguing these cases before the Commonwealth Court, Superior Court and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as well as Federal appellate courts.
• Plans, organizes and prioritizes work to meet deadlines.
• Travel as required, including to attend in person, off-site meetings and court appearances.

Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law.
• Five years of full-time, paid, professional legal experience or equivalent in a law firm, public sector law department or corporate law department.
• All work experience related to the position must be included on the resume.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of:
  • the common laws and the state and federal laws particularly as they relate to administrative, fiscal and regulatory functions of the School District or personal injury claims.
  • judicial proceedings and of the rules of evidence as related to the area of specialization.
  • the principles, practices, methods and techniques of legal research.
  • the principles and practices of governmental laws particularly as they apply to the tax levy measures provided under state statutes.
  • the uses and capabilities of personal computers and their software applications including word processing, database management and spreadsheets.
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • analyze, organize and evaluate the evidence and procedures involving difficult and complex cases and to present such material in clear and logical form for all written presentations such as memos, briefs, opinions, orders or decisions.
  • analyze legal documents and instruments.
  • draft legal instruments and propose legislation.
  • negotiated terms and conditions successfully.
  • manages a detail-oriented workload.
  • organize and prioritize workload during high pressure, high-volume workload periods.
  • collaborates with colleagues and District clients.
  • exercise sound judgment, discretion and tact required.
  • handle matters outside areas of familiarity.
  • manages stress.
  • handle multiple concurrent tasks.
  • review and process information within a computerized web system throughout the majority of the workday.
  • travel as required.
  • express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
  • establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination The School District of Philadelphia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 348 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.