Legal Assistant

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Law Department’s Tax Litigation and Collections Unit is hiring a Legal Assistant to work with the Business Tax Litigation Unit. 

The Legal Assistant will work with the Legal Assistant Supervisor to support the attorneys in the Business Tax group with their caseload and work with taxpayers under the attorneys' supervision.   

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. 

• Serve as liaison between the attorneys, other Legal Assistants, taxpayers, and others to facilitate disputes and resolutions in the City’s interest.   

• Collaborate with revenue department regarding customer needs, data sharing, increased revenue, reduced costs, and improved communications. 

• Court communications to ensure efficient case management. 

• Inventory maintenance, both building and reviewing for appropriateness with respect to court and client. 

• Collaborate with Tax Litigation and Collections Unit to ensure efficient handling of cases. 

• Assist attorneys with drafting of discovery and other legal pleadings as well as gathering responsive documents to discovery propounded by opponents.  

• Review accounts for legal action under the supervision of one or more attorneys. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Ability to maintain large volumes of documents and data utilizing databases such as SharePoint; 

• Ability to work in a demanding and fast-paced setting; 

• Ability to work productively on one’s own and collaboratively; 

• Ability to adapt and learn new systems/procedures; 

• Experience with Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat (including bates stamping, redaction, creating and splitting of pdfs); 

• Qualified candidates must be hard-working, organized, attentive to detail, and have an eager, helpful attitude;  

• Excellent time management and organizational skills; 

• Excellent written and oral communication; 

• Excellent attention to detail. 

• Knowledge of legal concepts such as attorney-client privilege and relevance; 

• Knowledge of City procedures is a plus. 

• Ability to learn promptly to use custom City applications (Prism) required 

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate and/or experience as an administrative assistant with specific experience with document drafting and management.   

Work Location & Onsite Expectations 

This position is designated as fully onsite and employees are expected to report in person five (5) days per week, in accordance with the City Policy. Regular on-site presence is an operational requirement of this role.  

Who Thrives in This Role 

This position is well-suited for candidates who are adaptable, collaborative, comfortable making decisions in real time, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high standard of professionalism in a fast-paced, in-person environment. 

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $45,478 to $62,371 - Commensurate with education and experience

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Marissa O'Connell, Divisional Deputy City Solicitor, Corporate & Tax Division, Tax Litigation and Collections Unit ([email protected]).  

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 [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx

Compensation: 45478 to 62371 (USD) (YEARLY)