Special Counsel

About the role

This is a full-time position for an attorney who is committed to serving the public in a fast-paced environment that encourages and rewards teamwork, creative thinking, and sound judgment. The primary responsibilities for this Special Counsel will be to manage and respond to records requests to ensure timely production and compliance with all applicable laws.

Responsibilities

All attorneys are required to adhere to a high level of effectiveness, efficiency and ethical fitness. Although all Law Department employees are expected to provide legal services in accordance with the needs of the County, the primary responsibilities for this role will be:

• Provides legal counsel for and advice to County departments and employees;
• Manages records requests including communicating with outside attorneys, court staff, and members of the public;
• Tracks and adheres to document request production deadlines;
• Coordinates with County stakeholders to gather responsive documents;
• Ensures records produced comply with all applicable laws including but not limited to the Child Welfare Law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Pennsylvania's Criminal History Records Information Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law;
• Identifies areas for policy development and increasing efficiency by working with the Informational Technology department and other County stakeholders;
• Assists, when requested, with legal research and litigation matters;
• Performs other duties as assigned by the County Solicitor, Administrative Deputy County Solicitor, or Deputy County Solicitor.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Be currently and continually licensed to practice law before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or able to obtain a Pennsylvania Bar License within 90 days of hire;
• Pass a criminal background check including a Pennsylvania State Police criminal history record check, a Pennsylvania statewide child abuse report database check, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record check;
• Detail oriented;
• Project management skills;
• Ability to learn new areas of the law;
• Sound judgment;
• Capable of working under tight deadlines;
• Team player;
• Commitment to public service.

Preferred

The following is a non-exhaustive list of experiences that would assist in carrying out the essential functions and responsibilities of the position.

• Legal experience, including matters involving children, victims, or other vulnerable populations;
• Strong academic background;
• Judicial clerkship;
• Experience advocating for diverse communities.