Supervising Attorney, Dependency Program

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) seeks a passionate, collaborative, and innovative seeks a passionate, collaborative, and innovative Supervisor, committed to social justice and anti-racism, to provide supervision and mentorship to LCYC dependency attorneys, legal assistants, and/or interns. Supervisors may carry a reduced caseload depending on capacity. Applicants must be a member of the Washington State Bar Association or qualify for admission by motion from another state under Washington State Court Rule APR 3(c)(1).

LCYC is expanding its dependency practice to align with the expansion of the Office of Civil Legal Aid’s (OCLA) Child Representation Program throughout the State as a result of House Bill 1219 (2021), guaranteeing the right to counsel to all children and youth in dependency proceedings over the age of 8. We aim to provide a program offering significant dependency training, support and supervision. LCYC is committed to providing holistic legal services that include best practices and at a minimum, meet the Child Representation Standards of Practice. LCYC Dependency Supervising Attorneys play a critical role in expanding high-quality holistic representation in Washington, building a diverse pipeline for children’s representation, and supporting systemic change in child welfare.

LCYC is a virtual non-profit and the Supervisor will work primarily from home. This position is based in King County, however, travel and in-person engagement will be required to support attorneys on the team throughout the State. As part of our holistic advocacy, the Supervisor may also provide legal advice, advocacy, and supervision on a range of civil legal issues such as orders of protection, housing access, eviction prevention, record-sealing, legal financial obligations, name and gender marker changes, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and public benefits. Applicants do not need existing expertise in all civil legal areas, but they do need to arrive at LCYC with a commitment to continual learning. Working in collaboration with youth and community providers, the attorney will help identify and influence systemic barriers to youth access to justice. Additionally, the attorney will engage in ongoing trainings and conversations as LCYC advances its journey in becoming an anti-racist organization.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION:

LCYC is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff and board reflective of the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, those with lived experience, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. LCYC particularly values lived experience in our practice areas of child welfare, juvenile court, youth and family immigration, and youth homelessness.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

This is a full-time salaried position that requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, as well as occasional travel to multiple counties within Washington state to meet with clients or appear in court. LCYC full-time salaried employees have some flexibility in setting their schedules each week. This flexibility allows staff to adapt the timing of their work week with the scheduling needs of representing youth. This flexibility also allows full-time salaried employees to achieve better individual balance between work and home.

The salary range for the position is $100,203.18 - $124,630.00, depending on experience. Salary range is on a 3 to 10-year scale based on experience as a practicing attorney. Spanish speakers are eligible for an additional $5,000 annually, beyond their set salary.

Supportive benefits include but are not limited to Flexible Time Away, Paid Sick and Safe time, medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan, and paid home office needs such as laptop computer, work cellphone, desk, and printer. LCYC does not have a shared office space. All staff work from home offices. Travel for work is compensated at the Federal reimbursement rate for use of your car.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Supervising Attorney, Dependency Program Qualifications

• Ability to live and practice law in the state of Washington.
• Applicants must be a member of the Washington State Bar Association or qualify for admission by motion from another state under Washington State Court rule APR 3(c)(1).
• Minimum 3 years as a practicing attorney in dependency and termination cases, having handled shelter care hearings, motions, and trials.
• Ability to zealously advocate for clients in and outside the courtroom, including issue spotting, problem solving, providing legal advice, negotiating resolutions, and written and oral
• advocacy.
• Willingness to learn and utilize case management and software systems necessary for a remote office environment, following LCYC’s standards of practice.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills by phone, email, and in person.
• Ability to communicate legal concepts, options, and potential outcomes in a developmentally appropriate manner with youth.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable, adjusting to the needs of youth and the organization.
• Ability to adapt to a fast paced, ever-changing environment and carry a positive attitude.
• Understands the effects of vicarious trauma and the importance of work balance and boundaries to support well-being.
• Ability to be transparent and own one’s mistakes. Ability to learn from past mistakes.
• Committed to continual learning and responsive to feedback.
• Ability to travel.
• Experience working with youth and/or children is highly preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.

Supervisory Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to LCYC’s mission of protecting the interest and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights.
• Experience providing training, supervision, and/or mentoring to attorneys, legal assistants, and/or interns
• Highly organized, problem-solver, with strong attention to detail.
• Outstanding project management skills and administrative excellence. Ability to excel in managing shifting timelines, multiple responsibilities, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize multiple competing responsibilities and keep confidentiality on programs.
• Courageous -- willing to take risks, continue innovation, fail forward and change course.
• Ability to take accountability for the team.
• Ability to receive and provide positive and constructive feedback.
• Demonstrates leadership skills including: excellent communication; relationship building; adaptability; able to make decisions and delegate; conflict management skills; integrity; commitment to excellence.

Qualifications for all LCYC staff

• Demonstrated commitment to LCYC’s mission of protecting the interest and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights.
• Commitment to and demonstrated interest in engaging in relationships with cultural humility and applying an anti-racist lens to program operations, community partnerships, and supporting staff and young people.
• Ability to work professionally with diverse staff and community partners, developing a relationship of trust and confidence.
• Ability to work independently, be self-motivated and work collaboratively in a team.
• Demonstrates humility, commitment to continual learning, and responsive to feedback.
• We strongly encourage applications from people of color, those with lived experience, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.
• All LCYC staff are required to pass a background check.

JOB DUTIES:

The Dependency Supervising Attorney will undertake a range of duties including, but not limited to:

• Carry a caseload all around the state of Washington, to include state court matters and federal immigration representation.
• May maintain a reduced dependency caseload.
• Supervise and lead a team of dependency attorneys, including novice attorneys; team may include legal assistants and interns.
• Accompany attorneys in their first shelter care hearing or dependency/termination trial, which may require travel (within WA State) to the location of the trial.
• Train attorneys on legal issues and skills, including holistic, trauma-informed representation in accordance with the Children’s Representation Practice, Caseload, and Training Standards
• Onboard new attorneys (with support from Director and other staff).
• Staff cases and strategize legal issues on a regular basis, at least weekly, biweekly, or monthly, depending on experience of team member.
• Conduct professional progress reviews and support professional development.
• Provide ongoing feedback including shadowing court hearings and reviewing written work.
• Ensure staff are meeting LCYC Administrative Standards of Practice: timekeeping, meeting target hours, managing caseloads, and maintaining client files, expenses, and data.
• Make reasonable efforts to ensure that attorneys conform to the Rules of Professional Conduct and elevate ethical issues to Director of Legal Services as necessary.
• Address grievances from clients, attorneys, family members, partners, etc. and elevate to Director of Legal Services as necessary.
• Support team members with meeting internal policy expectations such as youth feedback forms, youth stories, out-of-office policy, technology/cybersecurity policies, etc.
• Support staff well-being.
• Provide or identify coverage when needed, including for emergencies.
• Regularly participate in all staff meetings, trainings, identity group conversations, and project specific workgroups on equity and systemic racism.
• Monitor and communicate changes in law and practice, including updating shared program resources folders.
• Monitor case assignments and caseloads.
• Lead Team meetings, along with other Supervisors and Director of Legal Services.
• Attend LCYC Supervisors meetings.
• Coordinate with program team to ensure contract compliance, meeting caseload expectations as well as balancing caseloads for each team member.
• Support Directors as needed to inform ensure contract compliance.
• Work with program team to improve internal processes and policies.
• Elevate issues related to Human Resources, including workplace harassment, discrimination, microaggressions, etc.

This is a full-time salaried position that requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, as well as occasional travel to multiple counties within Washington state to meet with clients or appear in court. LCYC full-time salaried employees have some flexibility in setting their schedules each week. This flexibility allows staff to adapt the timing of their work week with the scheduling needs of representing youth. This flexibility also allows full-time salaried employees to achieve better individual balance between work and home.

Supportive benefits include but are not limited to Flexible Time Away, Paid Sick and Safe time, medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan, and paid home office needs such as laptop computer, work cellphone, desk, and printer. LCYC does not have a shared office space. All staff work from home offices. Travel for work is compensated at the Federal reimbursement rate for use of your car.