Description:
Overview:A Government Entity is an independent agency in the judicial branch of state government. A Government Entity administers the statewide Children's Representation Program (CRP). The CRP underwrites and oversees the delivery of effective, standards-based and equity-informed representation for children and youth for whom attorneys are appointed under state law.
Consistent with The Washington State Supreme Court's June 4, 2020 Statement to the Legal Community (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.courts.wa.gov%2Fcontent%2FpublicUpload%2FSupreme%2520Court%2520News%2FJudiciary%2520Legal%2520Community%2520SIGNED%2520060420.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cbailey.zydek%40ocla.wa.gov%7Cf2eac1a444834c7fba3208db44fee7ea%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C638179633823474564%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=S0xa7dzPi1UB9OXIkA66WeO8hffJLm%2F1cvz9YjJxwJc%3D&reserved=0), A Government Entity acknowledges that it and its contracted civil legal aid providers operate in a law and justice system historically grounded in racism and that time and again has administered justice differentially depending on the racial identities of those involved. A Government Entity was an initial subscriber to the Washington Race Equity and Justice Acknowledgments and Commitments (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwareji.org%2Fcommitments%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cbailey.zydek%40ocla.wa.gov%7Cf2eac1a444834c7fba3208db44fee7ea%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C638179633823474564%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=O1OHnavaLJlbKXZOOIPIrssxFa7L1Zpx8eXJUgg2U6k%3D&reserved=0). As outlined in its own Race Equity and Justice Statement of Purpose (https://ocla.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OCLA-REJI-Statement-of-Purpose-and-Commitments-1-5-23.pdf) (Download PDF reader) (https://get.adobe.com/reader/), A Government Entity is committed to being an active partner in carrying out the Washington State judicial branch's commitment to ensuring equity and justice for people and communities throughout our state. The CRP is committed to fostering fundamental change in Washington State's child welfare and juvenile court practices, which have historically and continue to cause disproportionate harm to BIPOC children and youth, as well as children and youth who have a range of learning and related disabilities; who suffer multiple and compounding traumas; who identify and/or present as gender or sex non-conforming; and who lack a legal voice in the process.
Duties:
The CRP is currently seeking exceptional contract attorneys with a passion for equity and justice for children and youth involved in the child welfare system to accept appointments made under RCW 13.34.212(3) to provide legal representation for children 8-17 subject to dependency proceedings; 0-17 subject to both termination and dependency proceedings; and youth 18 to 21 participating in the extended foster care program in Pierce, Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Wahkiakum Counties
Qualifications:
Skills and Background
- Licensed member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.
- One to three years (1-3 years) experience practicing public interest law, especially child welfare law, is preferred.
- Ability and willingness to meet A Government Entity's Children's Representation Program Standards for Attorney, including:
- Participation in A Government Entity's case activity and outcome tracking requirements and use of A Government Entity's Case Activity, Reporting and Oversight System (CAROS).Completion of A Government Entity CRP's web-based foundational training series.
- Participation in eight (8) hours of child welfare-related trainings and CLEs on an annual basis, including two (2) hours of training related specifically to issues of equity in the child welfare system
- Maintaining professional liability insurance.
- Submitting to semi-annual reviews by CRP staff as part of the CRP's oversight function.
- Engaging in regular consultation with CRP Program Counsel on issues relating to the provision of contracted legal representation.
- Demonstrated commitment to providing standards-based (Download PDF reader), culturally sensitive, and equity-informed representation to children and youth.
- Ability to employ effective, trauma-informed communication with children and youth consistent with their developmental ability to understand.
- Demonstrated commitment to investigating and raising issues relating to racial inequities and systemic biases that are prejudicial to the child or youth, in consultation with the child or youth.
- For new attorneys or attorneys with limited experience representing children in dependencies, the following conditions are required in addition to those listed above:
- Willingness to actively participate in regional Communities of Practice and engage with designated CRP Attorney Mentors.
- Participation in regional orientation trainings.
