Senior Legal Assistant - Child Welfare 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 240 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 Child Welfare Unit (CWU) represents the City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) in all aspects of its work in investigating reports of child abuse and child neglect and providing services to children and families in need. The CWU is a collegial, fast-paced, challenging unit in which attorneys are, with appropriate training and supervision, expected to independently manage their case files from start to finish.

Position Summary

The Senior Legal Assistant will provide executive level administrative support for the Chair of the Social Services Law Group and its management team. Excellent organizational skills are required for this exempt position. This Senior Legal Assistant must be able to work independently and possess excellent organizational and project management skills.

Essential Functions

Duties of a Senior Legal Assistant in the Executive Office primarily consists of providing executive level administrative support for the members of the Executive Team. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Preparing letters and other correspondence for executive team,

• Maintaining organization/filing system for City Solicitor including the archiving of Solicitor Opinions

• Compiling quarterly/weekly/daily reports as needed by the Social Services Chair and/or the executive Team,

• Scheduling meetings/interviews,

• Tracking assignments,

• Answering telephones and assisting callers with general inquiries for the Social Services Law Group,

• Logging mail,

• Preparing various reports and budget related documents,

• Filing and organizing documents for the Versatile system,

• Providing back-up support for hiring and recruiting efforts

• Collaborating on several projects which often include working with other executive team members, Administrative Services and department managers,

• Sending requests for information to relevant City agencies and following up to meet deadlines.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational skills

• Effective and professional oral and written communication

• Ability to work independently and think proactively

• Ability to manage and prioritize numerous assignments

• Computer skills required/desired for the position include:

MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, OneNote, Access)

Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms)

Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, OpenOffice Calc). ...

Email (mail merge, filters, folders, rules)

Presentations/Slideshows (Powerpoint, Google Slides, OpenOffice Impress, Tableu)

Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other virtual platforms

• Ability to complete work projects in a timely and accurate manner

• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Experience exercising discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information

Preferred candidate will possess an Associates degree, paralegal certificate or equivalent and have executive assistant experience, preferably in a legal setting.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $61,331 to $76,351 - Commensurate with education and experience

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Nicolette Burgess-Bolden, Chair-Social Services Law Group (nicolette.burgess@phila.gov).

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 8 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.

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