Job Description

Legal assistants in the Child Welfare Unit meet with Department of Human Services (“DHS”) social work service managers and Community Umbrella Agencies (“CUA”) case managers to discuss proposed and pending court cases, draft dependent petitions which are filed in the Dependent Branch of Family Court following these interviews, and review DHS case records in order to prepare petitions seeking either Voluntary Or Involuntary Termination Of Parental Rights, or Permanent Legal Custody. They also prepare related documents and gather necessary information in order to supplement these pleadings. The legal assistants occasionally expunge DHS case records of confidential information for review by outside parties and appear at Pre-Hearing Conferences at Family Court on behalf of the Law Department.

Essential Functions

The duties of a Legal Assistant in the CWU primarily consist of assisting in the representation of DHS in Dependency matters in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia – Family Division. These duties include but are not limited to:

• Drafting dependent and permanency petitions;
• Assisting attorneys with the logistics of case management, and document preparation and presentation;
• Reviewing and expunging DHS and CUA case records of confidential information for review by parents, counsel, and other parties requesting these files; and

Attending Pre-Hearing Conferences at Family court on behalf for the Law Department.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational skills
• Effective and professional oral and written communication
• Ability to work independently and think proactively
• Ability to manage and prioritize numerous assignments
• Computer skills required/desired for the position include:
• MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, OneNote, Access)
• Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms)
• Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, OpenOffice Calc)
• Email (mail merge, filters, folders, rules)
• Presentations/Slideshows (Powerpoint, Google Slides, OpenOffice Impress, Tableu)
• Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other virtual platforms
• Experience with electronic filing through PACfile
• Ability to complete work projects in a timely and accurate manner
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Experience exercising discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information

Qualifications

Preferred candidate will possess an Associates degree, paralegal certificate or equivalent and have experience supervising employees formally or informally, preferably in a legal setting.

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: Up to $56,587 - Commensurate with education and experience

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 6 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 faqpchr@phila.gov.

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