ATTORNEY II

Job Title

Job Description and Duties

For 8–12 counties, perform site visits as a Judicial Resources and Technical Assistance (JRTA) liaison to analyze and evaluate local juvenile court (dependency and delinquency) practice and procedure, and thereafter prepare a memorandum with legal guidance to ensure that judicial officers and juvenile court professionals comply with current federal regulations and state law.

Review and analyze court files to determine compliance with federal and state juvenile law and best practices. This involves examining documentation of findings and orders, written reports from the social services department and/or probation department, and any other relevant documentation in the court file. The attorney must determine whether the county is in compliance with title IV-E of the Social Security Act; and if not, to provide legal advice and counsel to judicial officers to avoid possible fiscal penalties.

Act as a liaison between the Judicial Council Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) and the court and county.

Provide training and/or technical assistance on federal and state legal requirements, juvenile court practice and procedure, county-specific areas in need of improvement, and/or areas of interest related to dependency or delinquency law. Technical assistance may include correspondence via phone or email to answer questions, or to review and advise juvenile court professionals on revising local minute orders and report templates.

Develop legal informational materials for local distribution and updates.

Develop and update legal informational materials for local distribution for the JRTA project. These materials include Information Sheets about legal areas, appropriate county recommendations, case law summaries and charts with legally accurate findings and orders.

Provide legal guidance to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council through analyzing juvenile and family legal issues, determining how to present the legal issues for consideration, prepare drafts of a proposal (California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms) for consideration, and preparing written reports and memorandum for consideration which frame the policy issues, provide analysis of legal issues, and assess the implementation and operational impact of the proposal on the courts.

Conduct legal research and analysis to aid the committee in determining appropriate/recommended changes to rules, forms, and standards for family and juvenile cases.

Perform special assignments, as requested by the supervising attorney, including legal research and analysis projects and the development of tools and resources for local courts and Judicial Council Center for Families, Children & the Courts' (CFCC) staff.