Job Summary

Provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Education and the School District of Philadelphia and its employees on a wide array of legal issues.  Works under the supervision of the General Counsel and specializes in transactions (contracts).

Essential Functions

All Specialties

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

Transactional Specialty

•  Provides legal advice relating to environmental matters, contracts, issues involving the design, construction, maintenance and modification of District property, educational services and programs, grant administration, audits, various financial matters and other District transactions.
• Negotiates and drafts professional services contracts, technology contracts, design and construction contracts, environmental contracts, facility services contracts, energy services contracts, educational services contracts, and procurement requests for proposal.

Other Functions

•  May be responsible for approving the purchase of insurance policies and administering the School District’s self insurance program for automobile liability, general liability, property claims and Workers’ Compensation.
• May assist School District departments in the preparation of bid specifications, and in any and all legal problems that arise in the course of their activities; meets with representatives of these departments on an as needed basis.

Minimum Requirements

All Specialties

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law.
• Five years of full-time, paid, professional legal experience in a law firm, public sector law department or corporate law department.
• All work experience related to the position must be included on the resume.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

All Specialties

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• the common laws and state and federal laws particularly as they relate to administrative, fiscal and regulatory functions of the School District.
• judicial proceedings and the rules of evidence as related to the area of specialization.
• the principles, practices, methods and techniques of legal research.
• the principles and practices of governmental laws.
• the uses and capabilities of personal computers and their software applications including word processing, database management and spreadsheets.

Demonstrated ability to:

• analyze, organize and evaluate the evidence and procedures involving difficult and complex matters and to present such material in clear and logical form for all written presentations such as memos, briefs, opinions, orders or decisions.
• analyze legal documents and instruments.
• draft legal instruments and propose legislation.
• negotiate terms and conditions successfully.
• manage a detail-oriented workload.
• organize and prioritize workload during high pressure, high-volume workload periods.
• collaborate with colleagues and District clients.
• exercise sound judgment, discretion and tact required.
• handle matters outside areas of familiarity.
• manage stress.
• handle multiple concurrent tasks.
• review and process information within a computerized web system throughout the majority of the workday.
• travel as required.
• express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
• 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.

Certificates/Licenses

All Specialties

• Certificate of admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and membership in good standing and for litigator’s admission to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

   OR

• Eligible for admission to the Pennsylvania Bar within six months of employment and are active members in good standing and currently licensed to practice law in another state and in compliance with the most recently completed twelve-month Continuing Legal Education compliance period.