CARE ATTORNEY

Children's Law Center of California•Monterey Park, CA

About The Position

The CARE Attorney is an integral part of the CARE Team working collaboratively with CARE Case Managers, 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 their 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 (both dependency and juvenile justice), team meetings and case staffings; 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.

Requirements

Strong written and spoken communication abilities; effective communication across various formats.
Excellent time management skills, accountability, problem solving, principled decision-making, client relationship-building skills, and critical thinking ability are required.
Possess the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct to maintain effective relationships with clients, families, service providers, and other child welfare professionals.
Prior experience in dependency, juvenile justice law, criminal defense or related trial experience required.
Interest & proficiency in working with children & youth in diverse communities.
Juris Doctor Degree & a member in good standing of the State Bar of California.
A valid California driver’s license, reliable automobile, and auto insurance are required while working for Children’s Law Center.

Responsibilities

Advocate on behalf of CARE clients:?
Assess the critical issues of each assigned case by conducting independent investigation and obtaining facts needed to properly assess each case.?
Attend juvenile justice, dependency and dual status court hearings and advocate on behalf of CARE clients.?
Attend and advocate for clients in LA County’s STAR Court.
Participate in on-going case reviews of all CARE cases to identify and create a strategy to handle legal issues.?
Review and edit intern advocacy letters to the juvenile justice court.?
On occasion, attend Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings (MDT) and Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings and regularly interface with the Department of Probation.
Conduct client visits, either individually or with a CARE Case Manager, to the county probation facilities.
Attend policy/stakeholder meetings as directed by the CARE Project Director/Attorney Supervisor and Firm Director.?
Research, write and file legal briefs.?
Actively participate in CLC’s Juvenile Justice Committee.
Develop and deliver in-house and field training of CLC staff and stakeholders.? ?
Assist with coverage of CSEC and NMD cases and attend hearings in probate or family law court as needed.?
Assist the CARE Project Director to explore CARE-like model support and linkages for Non-Minor Dependent clients who face adult charges.
Work collaboratively with other CARE Team members to create systems and methods of prevention and intervention.
Continuous learning: staying informed and adapting evolving social dynamics to better engage and support clients from all backgrounds.
Ability and willingness to serve as an ambassador for the CARE Program model in various settings including meetings with grant funders, national advocacy organizations and other community partners.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Program
Company-Sponsored Benefits (Medical, Dental, Life Insurance)
Up to 6% employer matched retirement plan
Generous Parental Leave + Additional Leave Options
Fitness/Wellness Program
Health Care & Dependent Day Care FSA
Transit + Parking Benefits
Durfee Professional Development funds are available for all employees, in good standing, who have been with CLC for at least two years.
Flexible working environment (depending on position requirements)
Paid vacation/sick/holiday time
CLC will pay the current year’s mandatory bar dues for all attorneys actively employed on the date bar dues are owed and who have no known plans to end employment with CLC within 30 days of the due date. CLC will also pay bar dues for new admittees who are actively employed on their initial payment due date and have no known plans to end employment with CLC within 30 days of the due date.