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 Law Department's Compliance Division, of the Compliance and Legislation Unit, provides counseling and representation on issues involving compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and best practices to City departments and officials with a focus on the following high-need areas:

• Children and Families: advising the Office of Children and Families (including the Department of Human Services, Parks and Recreation, and the Free Library) and the Office of Youth Ombudsperson.
• Public Safety: advising the Managing Director’s Office, the Office of Public Safety, the Department of Prisons, and the Police Department.
• Accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act: advising the Office of Homeless Services, the Streets Department, and other City departments.

Job Description

The City of Philadelphia Law Department seeks an attorney for the Compliance and Legislation Group’s Compliance Unit. This is an intermediate, non-litigation position that involves providing counsel to DHS, other Office of Children and Families divisions, the Office of Youth Ombudsperson, and potentially other social service/health departments. At the time of hire, applicants must be members of the Pennsylvania Bar. The ideal candidate has 3-7 years of experience, good academic credentials and strong communication, analytical, research and writing skills, and child welfare and/or public policy experience.

Essential Functions

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Advise on policies, procedures, memoranda, and other written materials related to City department and agency strategies and initiatives, directives, and other matters impacting the legal liability of the City. 
• Providing legal counseling to City departments and agencies including the Department of Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Free Library, Office of Homeless Services, Office of Youth Ombudsperson, and other City departments and agencies.
• Collaborate with other units in the Law Department, including but not limited to Child Welfare Unit, Civil Rights, and Labor and Employment to coordinate project management, and roles and responsibilities.
•  Provide legal assistance by attending meetings, obtaining facts, and reviewing legal issues and documents, to assist in resolving legal questions.
• Synthesize case law, relevant statutes, and state directives to produce written analysis within quick deadlines.
• Stay informed of relevant legal and regulatory changes in the law and anticipate possible impacts on the City.
• Work with clients to implement program initiatives and achieve goals related to legal or compliance efforts, working with interdisciplinary teams.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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.  answer questions, present to large groups and high-level officials and employ diplomacy in challenging situations.
• 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 of projects.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to use computer programs such as PowerPoint, Teams or MS Office.
• Excellent judgment and critical thinking in high-pressure situations.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• High degree of empathy and ability to resolve interpersonal conflict.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues and clients; Must be able to prioritize workload and solve problems quickly.

Qualifications

• This is an intermediate level position, with a minimum of approximately four (4) plus years of legal experience relevant to the subject matter and/or responsibilities of your unit 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 hire is at the discretion of the Law Department.

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $92,612 to $111,385 – 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