Divisional Deputy City Solicitor, Public Safety Compliance Counsel - Compliance and Legislation Unit

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, Investigations, & Privacy Group is comprised of the Right to Know Unit, HIPPA and Privacy Unit, Communications Director, and E-Discovery practice.   The Compliance Unit is a growing unit within the Law Department’s Compliance, Investigations, & Privacy Group.

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Divisional Deputy City Solicitor, Compliance Counsel for Public Safety provides direct advice to the Public Safety Departments of the City of Philadelphia, including the Managing Director’s Office, the Public Safety Director’s Office, the Department of Prisons and the Police Department. The Divisional works directly with senior leadership on providing guidance and input on a wide array of legal issues confronting these Departments, including reform efforts, personnel management and discipline, and civil rights issues, including compliance with extant settlement agreements/Consent Orders. The position will also advise leadership on legal risks and liabilities while working closely and collaboratively with the Law Department’s other Groups and Units, especially the Litigation Group’s Civil Rights and Labor & Employment Units.  Although the Divisional Deputy City Solicitor, Compliance Counsel for Public Safety advises Departmental and Executive leadership, the Divisional Deputy City Solicitor will remain a direct report to and answer to the Law Department and the Law Department’s leadership in compliance with the Home Rule Charter.   

Essential Functions 

In addition to the Position Summary, responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Supports Division goals and output, acts as a stopgap where workforce/workflow realities threaten providing timely or effective work product to the client. 

• Consistently demonstrates ability to manage matters from start to finish with limited/little oversight. 

• Supervises and manages work of outside counsel.  Makes informed recommendations about use of outside counsel.  

• Responsible for ensuring Departments comply timely and fully with court orders, settlement agreements, and other matters negotiated by the Law Department’s Litigation Group. 

• Ensures Department responses to investigations, including but not limited to investigations by independent City investigatory bodies (e.g. CPOC, Inspector General, and/or Controller) are responded to timely and completely while ensuring that information provided and/or withheld complies with all laws, regulations, and/or privileges.  

• Advising on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals of the Departments to ensure that DEI principles meet best practices in accordance with all federal, state, local rules, regulations, and executive orders.  Must have demonstrated ability to leverage diversity concepts to solve issues with social impact.  

• Responsible for facilitating contracts and other legal documents, including memorandums of understanding and mutual aid agreements, to facilitate Department operations with Law Department’s Corporate Group. 

• Responsible for conducting in-service training for Department employees in areas of liability; provides legal review of tactics and training for legal sufficiency and to ensure that the City’s interests are protected in civil rights, labor and employment, and other claims. 

• Advising on policies, procedures, memoranda, and other written materials related to law enforcement strategies and initiatives, directives, and other matters impacting the legal liability of the City.    

• Provides legal guidance to Department leadership staff on legal impact of administrative and operational issues, responding to questions and addressing issues during all shifts of the 24/7 operation, including days, nights, holidays, and weekends as needed. 

• Drafting, preparing and/or reviewing legal bulletins on changes in law affecting law enforcement; responsible for ensuring staff are aware of their responsibilities due to changes in the law to ensure that City’s interests are protected.  

• Participating in external efforts to raise the profile of the Division, the Unit, and the Law Department; 

• Providing opportunities for attorney training and mentoring; 

• Fostering and maintaining a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that recognizes and values all forms of diversity. 

• Ability to synthesize case law, relevant federal and state statutes, and local ordinances and executive orders, to produce written analysis within quick and unpredictable deadlines. 

• Performing other duties as assigned and/or required. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and 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. Must be able to clearly present and explain their case to arbitrators, mediators, opposing parties, judges, or juries and listen, answer questions, present to large groups and high-level officials and employ diplomacy in challenging situations. 

• Ability to effectively communicate complex rules and procedures to the public and to businesses.  

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to identify and analyze legal issues within complex fact patterns.  

• Ability to foster and maintain a collegial, inclusive, and professional work environment. 

• Excellent writing, case management, negotiating, transactional and trial skills. 

• Ability to support and supervise a team of attorneys and professional staff. 

• Ability to train professional legal staff as well as non-legal staff on applicable legal requirements. 

• 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; 

• Law enforcement experience preferred; 

• Management and supervisory skills preferred; 

• Must be able to prioritize workload and solve problems quickly. 

Qualifications

• This is a senior/supervisory level position, with seven (7) plus years of legal experience relevant to the subject matter and/or responsibilities of the position are required.    

• Prior law enforcement experience preferred.   

• Federal and state court litigation experience preferred. 

• Demonstrated supervisory and/or leadership experience preferred. 

• Ability to handle significant and numerous administrative duties. 

• 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 eligible to become a member of the Pennsylvania Bar within six (6) months.  

• Candidate must be able to obtain CJIS clearance.  

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample. 

Salary range: Up to $134,510 – 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.

Interested candidates should apply through SmartRecruiters:  

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Meghan Goddard, First Deputy City Solicitor (meghan.goddard@phila.gov). 

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