Assistant City Solicitor - Child Welfare Unit

Position Summary 

The ideal candidate has good academic credentials and strong communication, analytical, and writing skills.  Assistants in the CWU will have the opportunity to handle a substantial case load within a short period of their arrival in the CWU and will be charged with court room duties after a one-month training interval.  This position is ideal for candidates looking to improve and develop their court room skills while at the same time assisting the City in protecting some of its most vulnerable citizens. 

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. 

• Litigating Dependency Cases in Family Court in Bench Trials;  

• Litigating Permanency Hearings for Children adjudicated dependent in Family Court; 

• Litigating Termination of Parental Rights/Adoption Cases in Family Court; 

• Representing DHS at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bureau of Hearings and Appeals in Expungement matters; 

• Preparing DHS files for review by parents, counsel, and other parties requesting these files;  

• Litigating motions to quash subpoenas for DHS records; 

• Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; and 

• Researching and analyzing complex legal issues. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, 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. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues and clients.  

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity in the office that values all individuals and respects difference. 

• Excellent research and writing skills.  

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

• Ability to organize and maintain a relatively high-volume caseload. 

• Ability to work independently.