Children's Court & Guardianship Attorney

POSITION SUMMARY

The Alliance for Children’s Rights is seeking a dedicated individual to join our Children’s Court and Guardianship Program as a Staff Attorney. This is an exempt, full-time paid position.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance for Children’s Rights is a nonprofit organization that provides free holistic legal services and advocacy to youth and families impacted by child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Los Angeles County and works to enact policy changes statewide. Our lawyers, advocates, and social workers, together with hundreds of pro bono attorneys and community volunteers, work to ensure that those we serve have the tools to overcome barriers to stability and success, and access to the education, healthcare, and financial supports that they need. Since 1992, we have helped over 170,000 children and young adults. For more information visit: www.allianceforchildrensrights.org

To advance our mission of stability, equity, and justice for young people across the state, the Alliance also identifies systemic issues and barriers that impact our clients, and advocates for broad solutions and improvements through ground-breaking child welfare policy reform at the state and local levels.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Director of the Children’s Court and Guardianship Program, the Staff Attorney will:

• Interview, screen, and assist clients in need of probate guardianships and/or SIJS findings at the Alliance and designated community sites.
• Prepare relevant pleadings and provide direct representation as needed in Los Angeles County probate (legal guardianship, SIJS and, when applicable, request PC 1513(b) referrals to DCFS).
• Accompany youth and caregivers to dependency court hearings as needed.
• Communicate and follow up with clients, program staff, pro bono attorneys, DCFS social workers, Children’s Law Center attorneys, Court Appointed Counsel, and service providers.
• Prepare case summaries and files for pro bono attorney placement.
• Train, supervise, and provide technical assistance to student interns at the Alliance.
• Maintain and develop program materials in English for clients, pro bono attorneys, and the broader community.
• Conduct community outreach and training sessions.
• Identify additional resources and support services for caregivers and children, such as financial assistance, healthcare, and education.
• Participate in Alliance Policy Team meetings to address systemic issues affecting this population.
• Complete additional administrative duties, including data entry and filing.
• Perform other duties as required.

WHAT YOUR IMPACT WILL BE

The Children’s Court and Guardianship Program assists children, youth, and their caregivers in navigating the challenges that often arise from being in out-of-home care. This program aims to protect and advance children’s rights by providing representation to youth or their caregivers

when they are not appointed court counsel in probate, juvenile, or civil court systems. The person in this position will help secure Probate Legal Guardianships to support children in out-of-home care, assisting caregivers in creating stability and removing barriers to accessing supports and services. The attorney will advise youth and caregivers who have been diverted from juvenile to probate court, helping them understand the differences between the systems and, when appropriate,

request the initiation of juvenile court proceedings.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• J.D. degree, admitted to practice law in California, required.
• 1-3 years of legal practice (preferably in probate, dependency or family court).
• Fluency in Spanish highly preferred.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with families, children, young adults, attorneys, child welfare agencies, the judiciary, and the public.
• Excellent organizational skills, a desire to help others, and a self-starter attitude.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Immigration experience preferred (e.g., SIJS, asylum).
• Reliable transportation required.
• Commitment to social justice.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

This position will typically be based in our Los Angeles office, and the candidate must be Los Angeles – based. Except for in-person court hearings, Alliance events, trainings, in-office meetings with clients, colleagues, and community partners, and to the extent that telework is allowed, this position may work remotely from home. The employee may be required to return to the office at any time at the employer’s discretion.

This job description is of a general nature and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of the position.