Legal Assistant – Code & Public Nuisance Litigation Unit

Job Description

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 & General Litigations Unit, Civil Rights Unit, Tort Litigation Unit, Code & Public Nuisance Litigation Unit, Labor & Employment Unit and Appeals Unit.  The Code and Public Nuisance Litigation Unit of the Law Department brings cases on behalf of the City of Philadelphia in a broad spectrum of enforcement matters against property owners, nuisance businesses, and food handlers whose actions jeopardize the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Code & Public Nuisance Litigation Unit attorneys ensure that individuals and businesses meet all licensing, permit, and other regulatory requirements under the Philadelphia Code. The Unit also provides legal advice and counseling to City Departments (e.g., the Department of Licenses and Inspections, Department of Public Health, City Planning Commission, and Historic Commission, etc.). Additionally, the Unit has a robust statutory appeals process representing City Departments before administrative hearing boards and appeals from those decisions to the Court of Common Pleas.
Job Description
The Legal Assistant will work to support the attorneys by performing legal work in addition to clerical duties. The Legal Assistant communicates on with members of the public, attorneys, judges, and department heads. The Legal Assistant will work with other Legal Assistants and Clerks as part of a team to ensure that the responsibilities of the unit are met.

Essential Functions

Draft and/or review civil action complaints;
Prepare court notices, subpoenas for documents and witnesses, trial exhibits, service of process, etc.;
Input data/information into case management systems regarding all matters handled by the unit;
Assisting attorneys with the logistics of case management, document preparation and trial.
Compile reports as needed for the Chief, the Chief’s chain of command, discovery and matters handled by the unit;
Research on departmental systems, Westlaw, and public records such as Philadox, Atlas, OPA.
Assist in preparing witnesses for hearings and requesting discovery;
Coordinate appearance of court reporters and technology providers;
Follow up on action items;
Liaise with client departments, including Department of Licenses and Inspections, Department of Public Health, Streets Department, and PPD;
Communicate with the public regarding judgment balances and negotiated payoffs;
Set up all new cases files, typically for Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court;
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 for case files;
Additional duties as the Senior Legal Assistant and Chief require.
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to maintain large volumes of documents and data utilizing databases such as Sharepoint;
Ability to work in a demanding and fast-paced setting;
Ability to work productively on one’s own, and collaboratively;
Experience with Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat (including bates stamping, redaction, creating and splitting of pdfs);
Qualified candidates must be hard working, organized, attend to detail, and have an eager, helpful attitude;
Excellent time management and organizational skills;
Excellent written and oral communication;
Knowledge of legal concepts such as attorney-client privilege and relevance;
Knowledge of City procedures is a plus.
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 document drafting and management.
Additional Information
TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: Up to $54,939 – Commensurate with education and experience

Did you know?

We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
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
*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Please note that effective September 1, 2021 the City of Philadelphia is requiring all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

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