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OVERALL DESCRIPTION

Handles all aspects of litigation from inception to trial. Primarily responsible for the litigation of major cases that are filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and cases filed in the Compulsory Arbitration Program (of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas), as well as appeals of cases in the arbitration program.

This attorney may also litigate cases in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and in the county courts, and participate in the private mediation of major cases.

This position interacts directly with Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judges, judges in the Common Pleas Courts of adjacent counties, judges in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, ADR or private mediators, opposing counsel, SEPTA employees in other departments, independent witnesses, and outside experts.

This attorney's case load consists of major cases, (each of which carries a maximum exposure of $250,000 per cause of action), and arbitration cases, (each of which has a maximum exposure of $50,000 per cause of action, a limit that expands to $250,000if the case is appealed).

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Reviews facts and circumstances of assigned civil actions to identify applicable legal theories and devises appropriate litigation strategies, and makes recommendations to supervisors or General Counsel on legal theories and litigation strategies.
2. Assesses and makes recommendations to supervisors or General Counsel as to whether a case is appropriate for settlement, based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances and the overall strength of the case.
3. Undertakes all discovery and investigation efforts in accordance with departmental litigation protocols and management directions. Such efforts may include any or all of the following: interviewing witnesses, answering written discovery, filing timely and presenting motions (including those to compel response to discovery requests), arranging defense examinations of plaintiffs, arranging for engineering reports, producing and accompanying witnesses for depositions, obtaining medical records and other evidence, and determining that all relevant business records (both internal and external) necessary to the defense or evaluation of the claim have been obtained. The attorney will work with the Claims Department, other departments in SEPTA and/or outside sources to prepare the case for arbitration or trial.
4. Under the direction of the supervisor or General Counsel, and within designated settlement authority, communicates with opposing counsel to attempt to settle cases, as appropriate.
5. Prepares, issues, submits, files as appropriate, and in a timely manner, answers all motions, discovery responses, correspondence, memoranda for the Court, letters, and any other documents necessary for each case.
6. Prepares internal case management documentation throughout the entire litigation process, as called for under departmental protocols and management direction. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: attorney case summary reports and post-trial reports containing recommendations for filing post-trial motions and/or appeals.
7. Attends all court-ordered conferences, including Case Management conferences on major cases, settlement conferences and all pre-trial conferences.
8. Works with supervisors or General Counsel to assess the progress of the case up to the time of settlement or trial and makes recommendations to management about any beneficial modifications or strategies prior to trial, post-trial or prior to filing an appeal.
9. Works with supervisors or General Counsel to review and reflect upon trial performance and results for trial cases.
10. Makes recommendations as to whether an appeal should be filed.
11. Makes recommendations to management regarding additional discovery or investigation activities, or changes to litigation strategy, that may be useful or needed for a trial or appeal.
12. Works with secretaries, paralegals, and other support staff to optimally prepare a case.
13. Assists in the management of cases that are passed to outside counsel, and, at times, work with outside counsel in the handling of such cases.
14. May be called upon to supervise law students and, on occasion less experienced attorneys, who require guidance for an arbitration case, an arbitration appeal or during a major case. Acts as mentor to aspiring attorneys involved in the law student clinical program.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school in the United States and four (4) or more years of experience in the legal field is required. Some prior litigation practice experience specifically related to personal injury and property defense of trial cases is required.
• Admission to practice law before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is required.
• Substantive non-lawyer work experience (such as legal internship, law clerk, paralegal or experience in functional areas such as Claims, Contract Administration or Human Resources and/or other relevant transit experience) may serve as an equivalent for some of the required years of legal experience listed above.
• Candidate must display a high degree of professionalism and competence.