Job Description

The Law Department’s Tax and Major Tax Litigation Unit is seeking a licensed Pennsylvania attorney to fill an Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy City Solicitor position.

Prior litigation experience is preferred. Strong writing and research skills is required. In addition, excellent organizational and time management skills is necessary.

Judicial law clerks and fellows are a plus. Professional work experience before law school is also a plus. This is an excellent opportunity to obtain tax litigation experience.

Essential Functions

The duties of an Assistant City Solicitor in the Tax Unit’s Major Tax Litigation Division primarily consist of litigating agency and state court actions from the pleading stage through trial, which encompasses :

• Reviewing and filing court actions;
• Trying state court collection cases before the Court of Common Pleas;
• Trying agency appeal cases before the Tax Review Board and resulting statutory appeals in state court;
• Attending court conferences and hearings;

Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; and

Researching and analyzing complex legal issues

The duties of a Deputy City Solicitor in the Major Tax Litigation Division primarily consist of all of the above, in addition to the following :

Mentoring junior attorneys in the Division.

Assisting the Divisional Deputy with training and case management;

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules and process;

Significant experience in the City of Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

• 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, Board members, opposing parties, or judges, 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, and trial skills.

Ability to work with and / or train professional legal staff as well as non-legal staff on applicable legal requirements.

Excellent judgment and critical thinking in high-pressure situations.

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;

Last updated : 2024-04-08