Assistant Solicitor, Affirmative Litigation (NCS) - Baltimore City Department of Law

THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION

POSTING DATE: 3/7/2025

SALARY RANGE: $79,507.00 - $127,043.00 ANNUALLY

BACKGROUND CHECK

Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint must be successfully completed. 

PROBATION

All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a mandatory 6-month probation.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Law Department of Baltimore City is seeking a seasoned litigation attorney to join its Affirmative Litigation Practice Group.  Qualified candidates should have litigation experience and enjoy appearing as an advocate in court and administrative proceedings.   Excellent research and writing skills are required.  Applicants should be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and willing to identify and investigate potential actions that affect the city.

The Affirmative Litigation Practice Group is responsible for representing the city as a plaintiff in lawsuits brought at all levels of the State and federal courts, and in consumer protection enforcement actions in State court.  Attorneys work with outside counsel in cases of local and national significance, such as our cases against opioids manufacturers and distributors, the owner of the ship that struck the Key Bridge, environmental bad actors, and the makers of ghost gun kits.  Attorneys are responsible for helping outside counsel build cases with the assistance of City agencies, locating and evaluating potential cases for City participation, and litigating certain cases fully in-house.  Attorneys will also be expected to occasionally handle defensive litigation cases brought against the City in order to develop and maintain essential trial skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prepare and try cases on behalf of the Baltimore City government in the Circuit Court and District Court of Baltimore City, State appellate courts, and Federal courts.
• Oversee outside counsel in large scale actions and serve as a liasion between counsel and City agencies and employees
• Conduct legal research and provide legal opinions to the City and its agencies
• Participate on behalf of the City government in suits brought by it in the Circuit Court and District Court; prepare complaints and other pleadings, briefs, interrogatories, motions, and other legal case documents.
• Draft and prepare various legal documents, including but not limited to, contracts, ordinances, and demand letters.
• Investigate facts, develop litigation strategies; research and draft motions, pleadings, and position statements.
• Identify and develop causes of action in which the City is eligible to participate

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: A law degree from an accredited law school. Admission to the Bar of the State of Maryland is required.

AND

EXPERIENCE: A minimum of 3 years of experience in trial work, legal writing, and/or municipal law and practice before Circuit and District courts.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• A working knowledge of the Maryland Rules and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as the Local Rules for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
• The ability to manage and prioritize multiple complex matters.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to establish and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with others (inside and outside the Law Department).
• The ability to work independently and meet deadlines while handling multiple tasks.
• The ability to maintain professionalism under pressure.
• A strong sense of ownership of tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills required to work with the public and various agencies.
• Strong technology skills, including the ability to coordinate and conduct electronic discovery, as well as proficiency with Microsoft Office software and legal research platforms such as Westlaw.
• A willingness to perform with minimal administrative support.

BENEFITS

The City of Baltimore offers a generous and competitive benefits package. You can learn about our benefits here: 

https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov/hr-divisions/benefits

Baltimore City Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The City of Baltimore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources directly. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.

BALTIMORE CITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER