Description:

Job Description:
This is a full-time managing attorney position for DAC's innovative program, Corridor. Corridor is a collaborative endeavor with Santa Clara County's Adult Probation designed to help parents with criminal justice system involvement break the cycle of criminal justice and child welfare system involvement. Corridor clients may have open dependency court cases or may be at risk of entry into the child welfare system. As part of an attorney-led interdisciplinary team, the Corridor Managing Attorney works closely with the Corridor team, comprised of an attorney, two social workers and three mentor parents to provide holistic support that meets each client's unique circumstances.

The Corridor team provides the following core services: (1) zealous, interdisciplinary representation to criminal justice-involved parents at all stages of a juvenile dependency case to promote family preservation and timely reunification; (2) Know Your Rights to educate the community about child welfare system involvement, (3) support to clients in navigating the criminal justice system; and (4) limited scope representation to parents who are at risk of having their children removed and assist with family stabilization to address specific areas of vulnerability such as housing instability, substance use disorder, mental health, and/or domestic violence issues. If a formal petition is filed in dependency court, the Corridor attorney will represent the parent throughout the entirety of their legal case.

In addition, Corridor program responsibilities include weekly case staffings with the interdisciplinary Corridor team, networking and outreach to local community-based organizations, and ongoing data collection for purposes of evaluating and sustaining the program. An understanding of the unique barriers and challenges faced by parents with criminal justice system involvement is needed to support clients with either an open dependency case or those who are at risk of entering the formal child welfare system.

The primary responsibilities of the Corridor Managing Attorney include:

Working closely with the interdisciplinary team and supervising the Corridor staff attorney;
Facilitating staffing of all Corridor prevention and open cases in collaboration with the team;
Developing Know Your Rights materials;
Acting as the liaison with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and Adult Probation;
Coordinating outreach efforts and building networks with community partners;
Working with executive management to ensure all programmatic needs are met, including data collection, budget oversight, and team protocol.

In addition, the managing attorney will take on a limited caseload of clients as appropriate, and as required by the needs of the program.

Desired Qualifications:

Member in good standing of the State Bar of California;
High degree of professionalism and strong commitment to social justice;
Experience working with and advocating for marginalized communities on issues such as housing, family law, criminal defense law, mental health, domestic violence, public benefits, immigration and child welfare system involvement;
Ability to work collaboratively and lead an interdisciplinary team that includes social workers and parents with lived child welfare experience;
Ability to work compassionately and respectfully with clients in crisis;
Ability to network and build partnerships with community-based organizations
Trained in cultural competency, motivational interviewing and trauma informed service delivery
Familiarity with data entry and reporting preferred
Management experience preferred
Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred