Title: Senior General Counsel (Labor and Employment, Litigation)

Department: General Counsel

Reports To: General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel

Union: Not Represented by a Union

Salary Range: $111,985 - $145,866

The School District of Philadelphia is committed to becoming the fastest improving District in the country and transforming the educational opportunities it offers to our city’s more than 200,000 students. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

Job Summary

Provides leadership on a wide variety of legal issues in the area of specialization. Oversees projects and develops innovative strategies to resolve legal challenges. Provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Education and the School District of Philadelphia and its employees. Works under the supervision of the General Counsel and specializes in one of the following areas: charter school law, claims, commercial litigation, civil rights and torts, federal and state grants compliance, labor and employment, real estate, special education, school law and transactions (contracts) or environmental..

Essential Functions

All Specialties

• Represents the School District, the Board of Education and District officers and employees in varied transactions and litigation.

• Serves as a key contributor and handles the most complex legal issues; provides assessments and solutions which are optimal for the School District and the Board of Education.

• Leads, supports and trains Assistant General Counsel staff on law matters in the area of specialization and on particular subject areas.

• Conducts Districtwide professional development to encourage effective and efficient management controls; participates in and facilitates seminars to effect positive dialogue and relations in school legal matters.

• Participates in the planning and implementation of programs and activities in the Office of General Counsel.

• Provides legal advice and counsel to Board members, officers and employees on a wide range of education, labor and employment, litigation and business issues.

• Prevents legal claims by identifying potential risks and making appropriate recommendations.

• Defends law suits and claims by discussing matters with opposing counsel, filing necessary legal papers, conducting extensive discovery proceedings, meeting with and preparing the testimony of witnesses, trying cases or arranging settlements in the best interest of the School District.

• Advises employees by providing legal advice to principals and administrators on a daily basis and by issuing legal opinions when requested.

Assists in the formation of School District practices and procedures through committee participation in such areas as loss control, affirmative action, school closings, transportation and desegregation.

• Provides representation in appellate court proceedings by filing briefs and arguing these cases before the Commonwealth Court, Superior Court and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as well as Federal Appellate Courts.

• Provides all the insurance needs of the School District by meeting with School District insurance committees.

• Plans, organizes and prioritizes work to meet deadlines.

Civil Rights and Torts Specialty

• Defends the District in federal and state courts in acute personal injury and civil rights litigation and handles appeals actions seeking damages for personal injury and civil rights violations.

• Advices District personnel on risk management, pre-suit investigations and contracts involving release and indemnity issues.

Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

• Ten years of full-time, paid, professional legal experience in a law firm, public sector law department, or corporate law department or related area relevant to the area of specialization.

Certificates/Licenses All Specialties

• Certificate of admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and membership in good standing, with no delinquency in the most recently completed 12-month Continuing Legal Education compliance period; or eligible for admission to or reactivation for the Pennsylvania Bar within six months of employment and are an active member in good standing and currently licensed to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction.

• Admission to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Third Circuit Court of Appeals preferred.

• All work experience related to the position must be included on the resume.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of:

o common laws and the state and federal laws particularly as they relate to administrative, fiscal and regulatory functions of the School District.

o judicial proceedings and the rules of evidence as related to the area of specialization.

o principles, practices, methods and techniques of legal research.

o principles and practices of governmental laws.

o uses and capabilities of personal computers and their software applications including word processing, database management and spreadsheets.

• Demonstrated ability to: o analyze, organize and evaluate evidence and procedures involving difficult and complex matters and present such material in clear and logical form for all written presentations such as memos, briefs, opinions, orders or decisions.

o analyze legal documents and instruments.

o draft legal instruments and propose legislation.

o negotiate terms and conditions successfully.

o manage a detail-oriented workload.

o organize and prioritize workload during high pressure, high-volume workload periods.

o collaborate with colleagues and District clients.

o exercise sound judgment, discretion and tact required.

o handle matters outside areas of familiarity.

o manage stress.

o handle multiple concurrent tasks.

o review and process information within a computerized web system throughout the majority of the workday.

o travel as required.

o express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

o establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination

The School District of Philadelphia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 348 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

Senior General Counsel, Tort Litigation

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