Duties
- Provides legal counsel and advice to County Departments, including interpreting applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, and regulations.
- Conducts legal research with resources that include Westlaw and Co-Counsel.
- Prepares legal pleadings and provides legal representation on behalf of Allegheny County including active participation in pleading work, discovery, pre-trial practice, trials, and appellate proceedings in state and federal courts in litigation matters.
- Represents Allegheny County’s interests in legal proceedings initiated by and on behalf of current/former Allegheny County employees; represents Allegheny County in administrative matters before various state and federal agencies.
- Maintains electronic-only case files using the Law Department’s case management system, HighQ.
- Drafts, reviews, edits, and finalizes legal agreements such as contracts, leases, memorandums of understanding, and license agreements for assigned county departments.
- Drafts Solicitor opinion letters and ordinances.
- Reviews and approves various legal agreements through DocuSign for assigned county departments.
- Performs other legal work as required or requested.
Knowledge
- Civil rights law, immunity law, tort law, administrative law, employment law, election law, contract law, and other civil law.
- Applicable rules of court, civil procedure, appellate procedure, rules of evidence, the Allegheny County Administrative Code, and rules regarding professional responsibility.
- General trial tactics and procedures.
- Judicial and administrative procedures.
Skills
- Electronic technology such Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and DocuSign.
- Office case management programs (HighQ)
- Legal research platforms (Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, and Co-Counsel).
Abilities
- Effectively interact with County personnel, Law Department colleagues, opposing counsel, and litigants to resolve disputes and negotiate agreements and to effectively defend Allegheny County in legal matters.
- Write in an effective and cogent manner.
- Meet deadlines (work assignments, deadline submissions of legal documents to courts, boards, and agencies, etc.)
- Work independently and under the supervision of other lawyers.
- Review and analyze proposed statutes, rules, and regulations.
- Develop effective working relationships with Law Department colleagues, county employees, court employees, attorneys, and other parties with whom regular contact occurs.
- Travel to various locations throughout Allegheny County and occasionally travel out of the county or state to attend trainings or conferences.
Minimum Requirements
- A law degree (J.D. or L.L.B.) from an accredited law school
- An active license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- Applicants who have experience in civil law and government-related litigation are preferred.
Candidates must be able to travel to various locations throughout the county and occasionally travel out of the county or state to attend trainings and conferences as required for this position.
It is the policy of Allegheny County that in order to receive a final offer of employment, candidates must successfully pass a background check, which includes verification of Allegheny County Real Estate Tax status.
Residency
Allegheny County within 1 year.
Veterans' Preference
Will be awarded to eligible candidates.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online until the position is filled and/or the posting is closed. After reviewing this job announcement, please click on the link at the bottom of the page to apply online. A resume is required with the application. Further instructions on submission of documents are available in the online application. A resume may not be substituted for an application.