Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy City Solicitor

Job Description

Position Summary

The Regulatory Law Unit’s Environmental Division is currently seeking a licensed Pennsylvania attorney to fill an Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy Assistant City Solicitor position. Attorneys in the Environmental Division support the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Air Management Services via litigation in enforcement actions, provide regulatory counseling on permitting matters, and advise on regulatory initiatives. Attorneys in the Environmental Division also counsel all other City operating departments on remediation issues, including Act 2 and brownfield redevelopment, as well as associated transactional matters, and environmental justice and sustainability. The ideal candidate is comfortable being a muti-disciplinary generalist who can provide litigation, regulatory, and transactional support to multiple clients with diverse needs.

Essential Functions

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

• Advising and representing AMS in compliance and enforcement matters
• Advising AMS regarding air emission permits and licenses
• Advising various agencies and departments on Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment matters
• Advising AMS and various other agencies and departments on Environmental Justice issues
• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating small contracts, grant agreements, access agreements, and                                                                               certain permits
• Advising on and handling compliance matters under a wide range of local, state, and federal environmental laws regulating municipal functions such as underground tanks and waste disposal
• Tracking and advising on relevant environmental laws and regulations that affect AMS and various City operating departments
• Supporting the Law Department’s other Units on matters that involve environmental law issues
• Assisting with training and mentoring of junior attorneys, as relevant
• Assisting other City Departments on transactional matters as requested

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of environmental laws, administrative law, and municipal law
• Knowledge of regulatory and legislative processes
• Ability to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and propose viable solutions
• Ability to manage large volume of matters
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to communicate with clients at various levels with different subject matter expertise, as well as external parties
• Strong drafting and negotiating skills
• Strong legal analytical skills
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and display of cultural competency

Qualifications

• Assistant City Solicitor candidates must have one (1) plus years of relevant experience within a legal setting. This can be an entry level position.
• Deputy City Solicitor candidates should have a minimum of four (4) years of relevant legal experience.  Legal experience should include some or most of those described under Essential Functions.
• 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 currently eligible to be admitted by reciprocity to practice in Pennsylvania (Pa.B.A.R. 204). Continued employment of attorneys not admitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six (6) months of hire is at the discretion of the Law Department.