Deputy City Solicitor of Litigation

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited Law School
• Massachusetts Bar member in good standing
• Experience with employee supervision
• Five (5) years of civil litigation experience, and experience handling civil rights cases
• Valid Driver’s License and access to reliable transportation.

• Two (2) years supervising and managing attorneys
• Four (4) years of experience defending federal civil rights claims
• Prior municipal law experience

The City of Worcester is seeking qualified applicants for the Deputy City Solicitor of Litigation to join the fast-paced, high-volume collaborative and congenial Law Department to provide competent and timely legal services in the Litigation Division of the Law Department. Under the direction of the City Solicitor, the position will defend the City in state and federal courts and advocate on behalf of the City in civil litigation, administrative law matters, and occasionally, criminal matters. The position will liaise with outside counsel retained to represent the city in certain matters and will work to retain and oversee industry experts hired by the City. The employee will perform analysis of cases for appropriate and fair disposition and will manage a small group of Litigation Attorneys and a Claims Agent to complete assigned work.

Bilingual applicants encouraged to apply.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Litigate civil, administrative, code enforcement, appellate, and occasional criminal cases on behalf of the city, its employees, departments, administrative bodies, and boards.
• Conduct legal research and communicate the results of research in legal memoranda, before the courts, and to City administration.
• Draft, serve and file legal documents such as discovery requests and responses, pleadings, motions, memoranda, orders, findings of fact and rulings of law, trial documents, appellate briefs and related filings, outlines for questioning and arguments in trial and appellate courts, mediations, tribunals, or administrative bodies.
• Perform a range of legal functions including but not limited to: legal research, review and analysis of cases for appropriate and fair dispositions, preparation of written correspondence, working with defense attorneys, participation in court conferences and hearings including criminal hearings when required, motion practice and preparation for such, and working directly with witnesses and victims.
• Responsible for conducting hearings/conferences pertinent to civil, administrative, and other legal issues; confers with law enforcement officials, judges, opposing council, and other attorneys as required.
• Supervise and direct the work of a small staff of Attorneys and a claims agent, to include case guidance, mentorship, and personnel matters that may arise.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Proficient advocacy and courtroom experience skills.
• Skilled to complete multiple tasks in an accurate and detailed manner.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Thorough knowledge of civil law, City ordinances, and Massachusetts and federal constitutional laws and statutory provisions relating to the operation of municipalities in Massachusetts.
• Superior knowledge of rules of civil procedure, appellate procedures and rules of evidence.
• Ability to analyze, appraise, synthesize, organize evidence and precedents, and act quickly and decisively to new facts or goals often in high stress, emotional conditions often in a court room setting.
• Ability to speak and communicate privately and/or publicly in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to understand complex verbal and written information and to render legal advice with regard to litigation strategy and to independently investigate issues in an organized, detailed, and timely manner.
• Ability to represent the City clearly, logically, and persuasively.
• Ability to interpret and explain City, state and federal policy, law, regulation, and court decisions affecting city operations to diverse audiences.
• Ability to supervise a small team of litigation attorneys and provide guidance and coaching in evaluating, interpreting factors and circumstances of assigned cases for proper handling through disposition.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential issues and situations.
• Ability to draft, serve and file legal documents such as discovery requests and responses, motions, pleadings, memoranda, orders, findings of fact and rulings of law, trial documents, appellate briefs and related filings, outlines for questioning and arguments in trial courts, appellate courts, mediations, tribunals, or administrative bodies and assist staff attorneys with same.
• Ability to travel and have access to reliable transportation