Assistant Solicitor – Federal Litigation Attorney en City of Pittsburgh, PA

About the Department

Handles Federal Litigation involving primarily §1983 Civil Rights and Employment Discrimination cases on behalf of or against the City, City officials, City Boards, and/or City employees. Handles all matters relating to federal cases from pretrial through appellate stages, including case preparation, brief writing, strategy development, courtroom representation, appeals, and arguments. Responsible for collecting relevant evidence and handling general requests, including subpoenas and other matters related to litigation.

A perk of this position includes some remote work flexibility in a hybrid work schedule! 

Department:  Law
Posting Type: Announcement
Salary:  $91,166 per year. 
Union:  None, this is a non-union position.
Civil Service Classification:  Exempt

Position Duties

General Application Requirements:

You must submit or show proof of all of the following at the time of application (unless otherwise indicated below) or your application will be disqualified.  Disqualifications based on any of these General Application Requirements are not subject to a Civil Service appeal.

• Applicants must submit a complete application, including education, work experience, a resume (if applicable), and completed supplemental questions.
• A resume, cover letter, and writing sample, to be submitted online. 
• Applicants must become residents of the City of Pittsburgh prior to employment and remain a resident throughout employment.
  • Click here to view a map of City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.  

NOTE: The City of Pittsburgh, as a matter of policy, conducts pre-employment and promotional background investigations on all candidates being considered for positions.  The background investigation includes, but is not limited to, criminal background, driver's license, and City of Pittsburgh real estate tax payments.  Candidates may be disqualified from consideration based on the results of their background investigation, as it relates to the job for which the applicant is being considered. 

NOTE: Candidates being considered for employment must submit official transcripts verifying post-secondary education (college/university, trade school, etc.) prior to hire. 

• WORK EXPERIENCE: The ideal applicant will have four (4) or more years of full-time, paid legal experience in litigation and must have tried jury trials from voir dire to post-trial motions.  (Less than full-time experience will be calculated on a pro-rated basis). 
• EDUCATION/TRAINING: The application must clearly show a Juris Doctorate Degree and an active Pennsylvania license on the start date.(See NOTE under General Application Requirements regarding education/training verification.)
  • Applicants must provide a sample brief and cover letter.
• EQUIVALENCY:  Candidates are permitted to demonstrate experience before tribunals/judicial bodies in lieu of jury trial experience.

Minimum Qualifications

If you meet the qualifying requirements listed above, you will be sent a letter of admission (when applicable) for the following examination(s).  You must pass the written and/or performance examination(s) in order to have your name placed on the official Civil Service eligibility list for this position.  Candidates who receive job offers must pass a medical examination (when applicable) prior to start date.

• Written:  None required for this position.
• Performance:  None required for this position.
• Medical:  None required for this position.

Other Qualifications

• Represents the City in Federal civil litigation proceedings brought on behalf or against the City, including its City officials, or City employees.
• Researches legal issues and prepares legal memoranda and correspondence.
• Maintains and develops expertise about laws, regulations, and court decisions affecting municipal legal issues. 
• Researches legal issues and prepares legal memoranda, correspondence, pleadings, motions, petitions, and discovery.
• Conducts discovery, including corresponding with opposing counsel, depositions, answering written discovery requests, requesting documents and interrogatories from opposing counsel, and conducting expert discovery.
• Conducts depositions, trials, and appeals of proceedings in Federal courts regarding allegations of constitutional violations or tort claims.
• Performs activities, functions, and other tasks and duties as assigned or required by the City Solicitor.