CARE ATTORNEY

RESUME AND COVER LETTER REQUIRED. APPLY DIRECTLY ON CLC WEBSITE FOR CONSIDERATION.

                                                                                       CARE Attorney: JOB DESCRIPTION

Join Children’s Law Center of California (CLC) and become part of an amazing team of advocates and change-makers to break the intergenerational cycle of foster care. CLC is the largest children’s legal services organization in the nation, currently serving 33,000 clients in the Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Placer County child welfare systems. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The CARE Attorney is an integral part of the CARE Team working collaboratively with CARE social work investigators, CLC case-carrying attorneys, criminal and juvenile defense attorneys, probation officers, service providers, and the client to further the client's legal rights and to advocate for all needed services for the client and his/her family, including helping the youth navigate and successfully complete probation.

As part of the CARE team, the attorney will be responsible for conducting independent investigations; creating and implementing a strategy to address each client’s individual legal issues; participating in hearings and team meetings; ensuring the client’s connection to needed services; and supporting the client through CARE’s intensive case management model in order to ensure the client’s ability to complete probation and to thrive.

Qualifications:

A successful candidate for this position has a Juris Doctor degree and is in good standing with the State Bar of California. The successful candidate will also demonstrate:

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. They should demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and communication. Excellent time management skills, accountability, problem solving, principled decision-making, client relationship-building skills, and critical thinking ability is required.
• Possess the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in order to maintain effective relationships with clients, families, service providers, and other child welfare professionals.
• Prior experience in dependency or juvenile justice law or trial experience required.

Benefits and Compensation:

Annual salary starting at $79,500 commensurate with experience and qualifications. CLC offers an excellent benefits package including 15 PTO days and 10 sick days in the first year, an up to 6% employer-matched retirement plan, and generous Family and Medical leave and health care plans.

Additional information regarding job duties:

CARE DSY Attorney primary duties of the CARE Attorney include, but are not limited to:

1. Advocate on behalf of CARE clients 

• Assess the critical issues of each assigned case by conducting an independent investigation and obtaining the facts needed to properly assess each case. 
• Attend juvenile justice and dual status court hearings, occasionally dependency court, and advocate on behalf of CARE clients. 

1. Participate in ongoing case reviews of all CARE cases to identify and create a strategy to handle legal issues. 
2. Review and edit intern advocacy letters to the juvenile justice court. 
3. On occasion, attend Multi-disciplinary Team Meetings (MDT) and Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, etc.
4. Visit youth in placement, including, custody (adult and juvenile detention), group or foster homes, hospital or treatment centers, camps, etc.                     
5. Document, timely, all work in the case management system.
6. Attend policy/stakeholder meetings as directed by the CARE Project Director and Firm Director. 
7. Research and write legal briefs. 
8. Develop and deliver house in-house and field trainings of CLC staff and stakeholders 
9. Refining and creating CARE/241.1 training materials. 
10. Assist with coverage of CSEC and NMD cases or attend hearings in probate or family law court as needed. 

Additional Qualifications: The candidate must have excellent interviewing and client relationship-building skills and demonstrated commitment to providing client-centered advocacy for Dual Status youth. The candidate must have the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Problem-solving, principled decision making, and critical thinking ability are required.

 The candidate should have an ability to work collaboratively with other stakeholders and possess a working knowledge of resources and issues relevant to Dual Status youth, as well as the effects of trauma including but not limited to the effects of trauma, stages of change, relapse and recovery, SOGIE and statues and policies regarding DCFS’s obligations to Dual Status youth. 

The successful applicant must possess or demonstrate the ability to quickly develop a thorough knowledge of dependency, juvenile justice, dual status law, the Los Angeles County 241.1 protocol and the dual status pilot protocol.

The candidate must adhere to the professional and ethical standards as outlined in the CARE/CLCLA training protocol. Prior experience in dependency or juvenile justice law or trial experience required.

 A Juris Doctor Degree and membership in good standing of the State Bar Association of California, a valid California driver’s license, a reliable automobile, automobile insurance as required by California law, and an operable mobile phone are required at all times while working for Children’s Law Center.