Deputy City Solicitor or Senior Attorney - Tort Litigation Unit

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 260 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 Enforcement Unit, Labor & Employment Unit and Appeals Unit.  The Law Department's Tort Litigation Unit represents agencies and employees of the City of Philadelphia Department in civil tort litigation. Examples of the Unit’s litigation work include representing police officers in motor vehicle accidents involving a police pursuit, defending the Water Department from claims for property damage due to a water main break, and City agencies in premises liability claims.  The Unit works to ensure that legitimate claims are settled quickly at as low a cost as possible, and claims lacking merit are vigorously defended at trial or arbitration.    The Tort Litigation Unit is a collegial, fast-paced, challenging Unit in which Legal Assistants play an integral role in our practice.  With appropriate training and supervision, our Legal Assistants are expected to independently initiate and manage the investigation of tort claims, draft Discovery answers and assist in trial.     Professional Responsibility & Public Service  We serve the residents of Philadelphia by providing excellent legal counsel as trustworthy partners to our clients, no matter the challenges we face. Our work frequently involves sensitive matters, confidential information, and communication with City officials and client agencies. All staff are expected to work collectively to demonstrate professionalism, sound judgement, discretion, and a strong commitment to public service.  Position Summary  The attorney would defend the City of Philadelphia and its employees primarily in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against premises liability, motor vehicle, and property damage claims.  The attorney would be responsible for managing a caseload of approximately 75-85 Major Jury cases.  The attorney will be responsible for independently conducting intensive discovery and investigation of tort claims, conducting and defending depositions, attending court conferences, drafting appropriate pleadings, court memoranda, discovery, and dispositive motions.  The attorney will work with experts (e.g., engineers, medical doctors) and ultimately represent the City at trial, arbitration or ADR.  The Major Trials Attorney position will entail fast-paced, challenging litigation in which attorneys are, with appropriate supervision, expected to independently manage their case files from initial pleading through settlement or trial and manage their litigation calendars.    Essential Functions  The functions listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this role. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or essential functions. Duties may be modified, assigned, or reassigned as operational needs evolve, consistent with applicable law.  In addition to the Position Summary, responsibilities include but are not limited to:  Advise and represent the City of Philadelphia and our employees, before government agencies, and in legal  matters  Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in tort litigation.  Communicate with clients, colleagues, judges and others involved in the case  Conduct research and analysis of legal issues  Study federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations  Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals, and government agencies  Present facts in writing and verbally to their clients or others and argue on behalf of the clients  Prepare and file legal documents, such as preliminary objections, answers and dispositive motions  Supervise legal assistants  Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion  Analyze probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents  Negotiate settle