DEPENDENCY
LEGAL SERVICES’ JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR STAFF ATTORNEY:
Dependency Legal Services is a non-profit, interdisciplinary law
firm dedicated to serving children and parents in child abuse and neglect cases.
Our attorneys are court appointed to serve clients in Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Placer,
Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus and Yolo county dependency proceedings. Dependency Legal Services is a dynamic
law firm, with opportunities for growth, which values quality representation as
well as quality of personal life. (info@dependencyls.com).
JOB DESCRIPTION
DLS seeks a full-time dependency attorney. The attorney will represent children
and/or parents in all phases of juvenile dependency proceedings pursuant to
Welfare & Institutions Code § 300.
These cases involve allegations by Child Protective Services of child
neglect or abuse. Cases typically
involve addressing issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and
mental health in an effort to maintain or reunify families. This is a high volume, fast-paced position
which entails significant client contact, investigation, negotiation, legal
research, drafting of motions, appellate work, participation in alternative
dispute resolution meetings and frequent court appearances, including law and
motion and trial work. Extensive
training includes California dependency law, client communication, and
courtroom skills. New attorneys
are paired with an experienced mentor attorney in order to support professional
development.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENT AND EXPERIENCE
Applicants must be active Members in good standing
of the State Bar of California or awaiting admission. We welcome recently admitted attorneys as well as those with
many years of experience. This
position calls for individuals with a strong desire to positively impact the lives
of clients in crisis, including low-income parents and children from diverse
backgrounds. Strong written and verbal
skills are critical as well as professionalism and interpersonal skills. Spanish speakers are strongly
encouraged to apply. Successful
candidates must enjoy multi-tasking, working collaboratively within a
team-environment, while also providing strong advocacy. We seek individuals who are able to
work independently and are self-motivated. A valid driver’s license or other transportation to attend
hearing, home visits and out of office meetings is necessary.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Our attorneys are in court almost daily for law and
motion matters or trials. They are
responsible for every facet of client representation including interviewing
clients, explaining the law and standards of proof, and investigation of
factual issues. The work entails
numerous collaborative meetings to resolve cases and remove barriers to
successful outcomes. Attorneys
perform legal research, file motions, and prepare written briefs. The work also entails trial preparation
and conducting of bench trials.
Attorneys must have strong organizational skills in order to maintain a
high case load in this fast paced area of law.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary is commensurate with experience, ranging between $59,000 and $85,000. We offer a competitive benefits package which includes health, dental, and vision coverage as well as a matching 401k plan.
