Chief Deputy City Solicitor – Compliance and Legislation Group – E-Discovery and Data Strategies Unit

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The City of Philadelphia Law Department acts as general counsel for the entire City government structure. We provide legal advice to all City officials, employees, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions concerning any matters related to the exercise of their official powers.

The Law Department's civil practice includes unique issues involving public interest in business, health, safety, commerce, civil rights, taxation, and community development. We employ more than 220 attorneys and 100 professional staff to support seamless operations, reduce legal liability for the City, and challenge threats to quality of life impacting the taxpayers of Philadelphia.

We are an ever-evolving Department where all are empowered to reach their full potential, to collaborate with clients as true partners, and to see their work have real impact on the city of Philadelphia. We celebrate the diversity of our staff, the City’s workforce, and the residents whom we serve and promote an environment of comradery, accountability, and inclusiveness.

The Compliance and Legislation Group includes the Legislation & Legal Counsel Unit, Compliance Unit, Right to Know Unit, HIPPA & Privacy Unit, and E-Discovery Unit. 

Job Description

Position Summary

The City of Philadelphia Law Department seeks a licensed PA attorney with at least nine (9) years of practice to lead the Department’s E-Discovery and Data Strategies Unit. This is a management level position for attorneys interested and experienced in E-Discovery and data management and who also have personnel management experience. The E-Discovery and Data Strategies Unit is currently staffed by two attorneys and collaborates with all attorneys and administrative staff across all practice units within the Department as well as with leadership across various City Departments including the Department of Innovation and Technology.  The Unit provides legal and technical guidance on all aspects of e-discovery practice across the Department.  This includes the supervision of outside e-discovery vendors, the management of legal holds, and the management of e-mail collections and electronic document productions for the Department.    Strong leadership, analytical, technical, research, persuasive writing, and organizational skills are essential.  

Essential Functions

In addition to the Position Summary, responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: 

• In collaboration with the Executive Team, develop and manage the Department’s data policy and strategy, including internal e-discovery policies and procedures, consistent with applicable laws, best practices, and City of Philadelphia policies.   
• Manage and supervise all attorneys and administrative personnel in the Unit. 
• Supervise all aspects of e-discovery to support litigation, Right to Know requests, and investigations, including electronic document preservation, collection, review, and production. 
• Serve as project manager on a variety of legal matters involving productions of large or sensitive data and document sets. Execute document coding consistency checks and document productions within e-discovery software. Prepare e-discovery software data usage along with Divisional Deputy City Solicitor for E-Discovery. 
• Ensure that proper security and permissions are maintained in accordance with City security procedures. 
• Lead project manager on the rollout and adoption of the department’s new case management solution and development of department policies for usage and data management. This will also include designing and deploying legal workflows and ensuring successful adoption and integration into existing systems and practices. This is a strategic role that combines legal operations expertise, technical know-how, and project management to drive innovation and efficiency. 

• Coordinate activities between the Law Department and the Department of Innovation and Technology, and the external technology e-discovery teams and vendors responsible for data collection, processing, and production.
• Stay current with emerging trends and advancements in data and analytics technologies in the legal field and municipal government to inform strategic decisions. 
• Communicate with all Unit staff on a regular basis and maintain an open door for staff concerns 
• Provide opportunities for attorney training and mentoring 
• Foster and maintain a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that recognizes and values all forms of diversity
• Participate in external efforts to raise the profile of the Unit and the Law Department 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Requires technical knowledge, skills and experience using e-discovery software; excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage numerous complex and time-critical litigation support activities simultaneously, including technical/data processing and e-discovery support activities. 
• Strong understanding of privacy and cyber security issues with respect to data management and transfer. 
• Ability to maintain large volumes of documents and data utilizing databases such as Sharepoint. 
• Qualified candidates must be hard-working, organized, attend to detail, and have an eager, helpful attitude.  
• Knowledge of City procedures is a plus. 
• Ability to analyze large amounts of information, identify relevant facts, and propose viable solutions  
• Excellent time management skills 
• Excellent organizational skills 
• Ability to work in a demanding and fast-paced setting 
• Ability to work productively individually and collaboratively 
• Experience with Word, Excel (including formulas), Teams, and Adobe Acrobat (including bates stamping and redaction) 
• Knowledge of legal concepts such as attorney-client privilege and relevance. 
• Experience using advanced features of vendor-managed e-discovery software, such as Relativity, and of end-to-end e-discovery software, such as Everlaw/Logikcull/DISCO, is a plus. 

Qualifications

• The candidate will have at least 9 years of experience in civil litigation and/or e-discovery. 
• At least four years supervisory and management experience on major litigation support projects, including proven capabilities and communication skills to successfully interact with clients and attorneys. 
• Experience with implementation of a case management system is a plus. 
• Candidates must have a law degree from an ABA accredited law school and must either be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar, or currently eligible to be admitted by reciprocity to practice in Pennsylvania (Pa.B.A.R. 204). Continued employment of attorneys not admitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six (6) months of hire is at the discretion of the Law Department.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $141,648 to $167,291 – Commensurate with education and experience

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Andrew Richman, Chair, Compliance and Legislation Group ([email protected]). 

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx