Legal Assistant – Tax and Revenue 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 Tax and Revenue Unit represents the City, as plaintiff, seeking to collect taxes and certain other amounts owed to the City, and represents the City as defendant in cases where taxpayers dispute their liabilities. The Department of Revenue is responsible for collecting all taxes due to the City and to the School District of Philadelphia, and for collecting water and sewer charges and certain other debts to the City. From time to time, the Law Department seeks professional services providers to assist it in its work, including third-party collection services. The Department of Revenue is selected to administer these contracts, in conjunction with the Law Department’s Tax Unit, because of its expertise in the field of taxation and because of its experience in hiring tax collectors.
Job Description
The Law Department’s Tax and Revenue Unit needs a Legal Assistant to work in the Major Tax Litigation Division, a collection unit of the Law Department, assisting in the preparation of pleadings and other duties related to the collection of delinquent Business Taxes.
Essential Functions
Meet with taxpayers on-a-daily basis.
Enter taxpayers into agreements for delinquent business taxes.
Review Answers to Complaints and assist attorneys with responses.
Assist with bankruptcy claim objections.
Prepare and E-File various Court documents related to business tax collection.
Reviews and interprets business tax accounts and payment histories when needed.
Work with the attorneys in the unit on various projects.
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;
Experience with Word (including Tables of Contents and Authorities), Excel (including formulas), DocuSign, and Adobe Acrobat (including bates stamping and redaction);
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.
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
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.
