Youth Homelessness Program Attorney - King County

ATTORNEY POSITION

King County, WA

At-Home Office

Full-time, Salaried

SUMMARY:

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) seeks a passionate, collaborative, and innovative attorney, committed to social justice and anti-racism, to provide direct representation, community outreach, and education to young people, ages 12-24 years who are unstably housed in King County. 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). At least 3 years of attorney experience is highly preferred.

This position is based in King County. LCYC is a virtual non-profit. The attorney will work from home and spend most of their time in the King County community – meeting with clients and community partners in schools, shelters, and at court. The attorney will provide legal assistance for young people through (1) direct legal representation (2) legal advice and consultation, and (3) legal education to youth and community partners. 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 be responsible for outreach, partner relationships and generating referrals in King County. The attorney may advise and/or represent young people on a wide range of civil legal issues including, but not limited to, orders of protection, dependencies, minor guardianships, Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions, CHINS petitions, housing access, eviction prevention, record-sealing, legal financial obligations, name and gender marker changes, emancipations, navigating child welfare systems, and public benefits. Additionally, the attorney will identify other legal and general non-legal issues that the youth may be facing and warmly handoff to the appropriate community partner.

The attorney will not need existing expertise in all the areas listed, but they do need to arrive at LCYC with a commitment to continual learning and adaptability. LCYC is a growing, dynamic organization committed to responding to the needs of our clients and community, as well as the professional development of our staff. The attorney’s duties may shift over time, and the attorney may have opportunities to work on other teams and in other practice areas directly supporting youth.

Experience in either dependencies, minor guardianships, or CHINS/ARY/Becca proceedings is highly valued. Experience with survivors of gender-based violence is highly valued. Spanish speakers are highly valued.

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 LGBTQIA+ 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, overtime exempt, salaried position that requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, as well as regular travel throughout King County and occasional travel within Washington State. LCYC exempt 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 employees to achieve better individual balance between work and home.

The salary range for the position is $80,000 - $110,000, depending on experience. Salary range is on a 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, medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan, and paid home office needs such as laptop computer, work cellphone, stand-up 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.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to travel meet clients in person where they are throughout King County and occasionally in neighboring counties. 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).
• At least 3 years of Attorney experience highly preferred.
• 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 culturally competent relationships and applying an anti-racist lens to program operations, community partnerships, and supporting young people.
• Demonstrated interest and ability in working with youth and families of diverse racial, cultural, socio-economic backgrounds and inspire their confidence.
• 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.
• Strong organizational skills. Ability to manage multiple competing priorities, ensuring tasks are completed in a timely manner and lower-priority items do not slip through the cracks.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated and ask for help.
• Willingness to learn and utilize case management and software systems necessary for a remote office environment, following LCYC’s standards of practice.
• 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 engage with the community and partners to generate referrals. Creativity and self-motivation in this area is highly desirable.
• Ability to create and deliver presentations to youth and community providers to form relationships and reach potential clients.
• Understands the effects of vicarious trauma and the importance of work balance and boundaries to support well-being.
• Committed to continual learning and responsive to feedback.
• Experience in dependencies, minor guardianships, CHINS/ARY/Becca proceedings, or juvenile defense is highly valued.
• Experience working with survivors of gender-based violence is highly valued.
• Litigation experience is highly valued.

• Experience working with youth and/or children is highly preferred.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is highly valued.

JOB DUTIES:

The attorney in King County will undertake a range of duties including, but not limited to, the list below.

• Conduct onsite intake for youth ages 12-24 years who are or are at risk of becoming homeless. Intake is conducted regularly at local shelter(s), drop-in center(s), and school(s). Intake times may fall outside of usual business hours. Attorneys also process phone and e-mail intakes for new referrals.
• Draft and file appropriate pleadings in different matters as needed in multiple courts. Must be able to litigate and represent clients zealously.
• Provide youth with legal advice, referrals, mediation, and in-court representation as needed on a variety of legal matters including, but not limited to, orders of protection, dependencies, minor guardianships, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, CHINS/ARY, emancipations, navigating child welfare systems, record-sealing, legal financial obligations, education, name and gender marker changes, and public benefits.
• Investigate each case; analyze facts in light of relevant legal considerations; conduct legal research; prepare litigation strategy; prepare legal memoranda, motions and briefs, and argue specific legal motions and pleadings; litigate evidentiary hearings; examine and cross-examine witnesses.
• Partner with local community service providers, school staff, shelter staff, court staff, young people, and the LCYC team on the direct delivery of services and continual improvement of the service model and its local adaptation.
• Present trainings for community providers, school staff, shelter staff, court staff, service providers and/or youth.
• Participate in regular case review with LCYC management.
• Participate in weekly team meetings, general staff monthly meetings, and bi-annual retreats with all LCYC staff.
• Staff cases, problem solve, and identify trends and systemic barriers as an active member of LCYC.
• Participate in trainings to continually improve the advocacy provided to the youth LCYC serves.
• Experienced attorneys are expected to provide mentorship, support and discuss cases with more novice attorneys.
• Timely track hours, expenses, and pertinent case data from intake to closing in LCYC’s online
• case management system.
• Timely calendar court dates and appointments and upload case documents into case management system.
• Timely and accurately update case information in LCYC’s online case management system to ensure a complete record, including status and work completed to date on the matter.
• Regularly participate in trainings, identity group conversations, and project specific workgroups on equity and systemic racism.
• May work on other teams and practice areas directly supporting youth.

LCYC’s services are community based. We meet youth in locations where they feel safe and can easily access. The attorney is expected to provide services in King County. All LCYC staff are required to pass a background check.

ABOUT LCYC:

LCYC protects the interests and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights. We accomplish our mission through direct legal representation, strong community partnerships, and systemic advocacy. We have four program areas: child welfare, juvenile court, youth and family immigration, and youth homelessness.

LCYC provides community-based, holistic legal advocacy to expand access to justice for young people in Washington. LCYC was created and continues to evolve in response to the community’s needs. We meet youth where they are—geographically, developmentally, emotionally, culturally, and linguistically. We collaborate with the youth, family members, educators, service providers, and other community partners to ensure that the legal and non-legal needs of the youth are met.

LCYC empowers youth by helping them understand and engage in complex legal systems that impact their lives and their families. We help youth understand and assess legal issues, options, potential consequences, and opportunities, before the youth determines the path forward.

LCYC is a team of supportive, creative, risk-taking, and flexible attorneys seeking to disrupt the status quo. We are committed to continual learning. An essential part of that learning must be centered on anti-racism within ourselves, our organization, and the systems we encounter as advocates for young people. We are willing to fail forward, make mistakes and learn, and embrace change. We believe humor and teamwork are critical to doing this sometimes incredibly difficult work.

TO APPLY:

Before submitting your application, check LCYC’s website (https://lcycwa.org/careers) to make

sure that this position is still open. Please submit a letter of interest, resume, brief writing sample, and list of three references to Chach Duarte White (she/her/ella) at chach@lcycwa.org.

For your application to be considered, include a response to the following question in your cover

letter:

• How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise,

have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to anti-racism and equity internally

and externally?

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. We hope to hire as soon as possible. This position will be left open until filled.

This is a full-time, overtime exempt, salaried position that requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, as well as regular travel throughout King County and occasional travel within Washington State. LCYC exempt 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 employees to achieve better individual balance between work and home.

The salary range for the position is $80,000 - $110,000, depending on experience. Salary range is on a 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, medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan, and paid home office needs such as laptop computer, work cellphone, stand-up 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.