Description:
Job Summary:
Attorneys in the GAL program represent children who are the subject of abuse and neglect cases in DC's Family Court. GAL Staff Attorneys manage a case load of up to 35 cases. In managing those cases, attorneys benefit from multiple internal resources, including a litigation protocol, monthly case rounds, appellate support, close supervision and regular training. Staff Attorneys advocate - both in and out for court - to advance the best interests of children, maintain notes in the case management system and keep their supervisors informed of all significant developments in their cases. The GAL program has identified core competencies that provide guidance for professional development and promotion; attorneys receive ongoing feedback about their performance with respect to each competency.
Staff Attorneys receive cases through court appointment and, in addition to representing children, they assist in other program and organizational deliverables as necessary or requested. Children's Law Center (CLC) endeavors to maintain a collaborative, collegial workplace, and Staff Attorneys assist colleagues on their cases and provide emergency and holiday coverage, when possible, to assist in maintaining that environment.
Role Responsibilities:
Case Handling: Advocacy
Case Handling: Supervision
Case Handling: CLC Obligations
Case Handling: Professional Development
Organizational Priorities
Required Skills and Experience:
Preferred Qualifications:
Attorneys in the GAL program represent children who are the subject of abuse and neglect cases in DC's Family Court. GAL Staff Attorneys manage a case load of up to 35 cases. In managing those cases, attorneys benefit from multiple internal resources, including a litigation protocol, monthly case rounds, appellate support, close supervision and regular training. Staff Attorneys advocate - both in and out for court - to advance the best interests of children, maintain notes in the case management system and keep their supervisors informed of all significant developments in their cases. The GAL program has identified core competencies that provide guidance for professional development and promotion; attorneys receive ongoing feedback about their performance with respect to each competency.
Staff Attorneys receive cases through court appointment and, in addition to representing children, they assist in other program and organizational deliverables as necessary or requested. Children's Law Center (CLC) endeavors to maintain a collaborative, collegial workplace, and Staff Attorneys assist colleagues on their cases and provide emergency and holiday coverage, when possible, to assist in maintaining that environment.
Role Responsibilities:
Case Handling: Advocacy
- Provide high-quality direct legal representation.
- Zealously advocate for the children in all cases.
- Attend all court dates and timely file all appropriate pleadings.
- Attend and actively participate in regular supervision with their supervisor to brainstorm case strategies, keep the supervisor informed and ensure quality of representation.
- Provide written materials to their supervising attorney to allow the supervisor to provide feedback on all written material, including trial preparation.
- Maintain accurate, timely data entry and document storage in CLC's case management system.
- Complete quarterly case planning note.
- Participate in all required trainings, meetings and other CLC events including but not limited to:
- litigation meetings.
- supervision.
- case rounds.
- trainings.
- GAL staff meetings.
- other internal committees or workgroups, if applicable.
- Follow all case representation policies.
- Provide support to CLC's Policy team in areas of expertise to address the systemic needs of children.
- Identify and elevate TASIL (Targeted Appellate Strategy Issues List) cases to supervisor and Appellate team.
- Set annual goals and review them regularly to direct professional development.
- Work to achieve annual goals and incorporate feedback from supervisory staff to improve case performance and capacity.
- Attend trainings.
- Develop or lead internal or external trainings as needed.
Required Skills and Experience:
- JD degree.
- DC Bar membership or eligibility for DC Bar membership based the transfer of a Uniform Bar Examination score attained in another jurisdiction or membership in good standing in the Bar of another jurisdiction for at least 3 years immediately prior to the application for admission.
- Valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A demonstrated commitment to social, economic and racial justice.
- Post-JD litigation experience.
- Experience working with children and/or teens.
- Experience in legal services or other community lawyering. Experience that will be considered includes job experience, law school clinics, clerkships and internships.
- Post-JD judicial clerkship experience.
- Experience in legal research roles.
- Experience in family law or disability law.
- Experience working with communities with limited financial resources.
- Strong legal analysis, research, writing and oral advocacy skills.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated capacity to work independently and collaboratively.
- Proactively identifies issues and works to find creative solutions in the face of obstacles.
- Strong independent judgement and decision-making.
