Assistant General Counsel (Special Education)

Assistant General Counsel (Special Education)
OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
440 N. BROAD STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19130

Central Office

Job Number: 4600144366

Start Date:

Open Date: 09/07/2017

Closing Date:

Job Summary
Provides legal advice and representation to the School Reform Commission 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 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).
Essential Functions
All Specialties

• Represents the School District, the School Reform Commission and District officers and employees in varied transactions and litigation.
• Provides legal advice and counsel to Commission 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.

Special Education Specialty

• Provides advice and training to schools and administrative offices on the federal and state legal requirements relating to the identification, evaluation, programming and placement of students with disabilities and works to ensure compliance with these legal mandates.
• Represents the District in due process hearings, proceedings convened before the Office of Civil Rights and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and at meetings to establish students' Individualized Education Programs, and in federal court.

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

• Bachelor's of Law 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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Demonstrated knowledge of:

• the common laws and the state and federal laws particularly as they relate to
• administrative, fiscal and regulatory functions of the School District or personal injury
• judicial proceedings and of 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 particularly as they apply to the tax levy measures provided under state statutes.
• 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 cases 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.
• exercise sound judgment, discretion and tact required.
• 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
Certificate of admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and membership in good standing for litigator's admission to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Additional Job Information: Interviews may be conducted to determine how well a candidate meets the established criteria. Note that not all qualified candidates may be selected for an interview. Additional factors including the ability to follow directions, punctuality and professional conduct will be considered in part of the evaluation process. The selected candidate must have no anecdotal record on file and have not been subject to any disciplinary action within the past eighteen (18) months, and have an excellent record of attendance and punctuality during the last three (3) years (defined as no more than eighteen (18) occasions of lateness or absence for personal illness in the last three years (3) years with the exception of one extended long-term absence.