Company Description

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 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 220 attorneys and 100 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 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 and General Litigation Unit, Civil Rights Unit, Tort Litigation Unit, Code Enforcement Unit, Labor and Employment Unit and Appeals Unit.  The Labor and Employment Unit of the Law Department represents the City of Philadelphia departments, agencies, boards and officials in litigation and counseling matters. Attorneys appear daily before the Civil Service Commission, AAA arbitrations, and agencies such as the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, the EEOC and the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and litigate in federal and state courts. This unit also handles claims of age, race and gender discrimination, and sexual harassment and provides counsel to all operating departments on labor and employment law matters. Counseling is a major aspect of the practice: candidates provide advice to clients (management) also on a daily basis and provide training and refresher courses to Human Resource professionals and supervisors in all areas of labor and employment law. This position is in a high-volume litigation practice which often involves complex settlement negotiations.

Job Description

The Senior Legal Assistant will work to support the attorneys by performing legal work in addition to clerical duties. The Senior Legal Assistant communicates on a daily basis with members of the public, attorneys, judges, and department heads. The Senior Legal Assistant will work with, or supervise, the Legal Assistants and Administrative Assistant as part of a team to ensure that the responsibilities of the unit are met.

Essential Functions

Administrative duties 

• Compile the quarterly report 
• Compile daily/weekly reports as needed for the Chief, the Chief’s chain of command, discovery and Right To Know Requests 
• Input data into case management system regarding all matters handled by the unit 
• Assist in preparing witnesses for hearings and requesting discovery 
• Coordinate appearance of court reporters and technology providers  
• Prepare court notices, subpoenas for documents and witnesses, trial exhibits  
• Schedule Independent Medical/Psychological Examinations, depositions 
• Interview City employees as part of investigations to determine liability and prepare the witnesses for hearings 
• Follow up on action items 
• Liaise with client departments, including Police Labor Relations and Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations, and opposing counsel to achieve the above  

Clerical work 

• Set up all new cases files, typically for Arbitration and PLRB matters 
• Maintain attorney and group calendars for all hearings    
• Copy, scan, fax and hand-deliver documents 
• Redact sensitive information from discoverable documents  
• Preserve electronic copies of documents all grievances/ULP packages received from MOLR (grievance demand, notification of hearing date, arbitrator resume/arb letter (if one exists) 

Miscellaneous  

• Duties as the Chief require  
• Assisting attorneys with the logistics of case management, document preparation and trial.  

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to maintain large volumes of documents and data utilizing databases such as SharePoint;
• Qualified candidates must be hard working, organized, attend to detail, and have an eager, helpful attitude;
• Knowledge of City procedures is a plus;
• Excellent time management and organizational skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication;
• Ability to work in a demanding and fast-paced setting;
• Ability to work productively on one’s own, and collaboratively;
• Knowledge of legal concepts such as attorney-client privilege and relevance.

Work-Life

The Law Department supports a robust work-life balance.  Working hours are 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday.  Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days.  The in-office requirement is 15 hours per week – essentially two days – or as otherwise needed, based on business needs, such as in-person hearings or client meetings.  Staff can opt to come into the office each day if desired.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate and/or experience as an administrative assistant with specific experience with contract drafting and management. 

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: Up to $71,349 – 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