Description:
***Please be sure to include a resume and cover letter for consideration. Thank you for your interest.Expectant & Parenting Youth (EPY) Attorney: Job Description
CLCLA1 is seeking candidates for an EPY CARE Attorney position. The EPY CARE Attorney is an integral part of the CARE Team, working collaboratively with CARE EPY Investigators, CLC case-carrying attorneys, 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 navigating and completing court-ordered services through the dependency court.
As part of the EPY 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 court-ordered services and to successfully parent. The attorney will also communicate with the CLC Policy team to address systemic issues facing EPY clients.
Responsibilities:
- Advocate on behalf EPY clients
- Assess the critical issues of each assigned case by conducting independent investigation and obtaining facts needed to properly assess each case.
- Attend court hearings and assist case-carrying attorneys to advocate on behalf of EPY clients.
- Take any necessary steps in and out of court to hold DCFS and other team members accountable for meeting client needs.
- When needed, work with the CLC Policy Team to address individual and systemic issues affecting clients.
- Participate in on-going case reviews of all EPY cases to create a strategy to handle legal issues.
- When appropriate, attend Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings
- Attend policy/stakeholder meetings as directed by the EPY CARE Attorney Supervisor and Firm Director.
- Research and write legal briefs.
- Develop and deliver in-house and field trainings to CLC staff and stakeholders.
- Refine and create EPY training materials.
Requirements:
Experience & 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 practicing in dependency is required.
