Family Advocacy Unit Staff Attorney

Community Legal Services, Inc. of Philadelphia (CLS) is a non-profit public interest agency providing free civil legal services to low-income Philadelphia residents. As the largest provider of free civil legal services in the Philadelphia area, CLS is both locally and nationally renowned as a premier legal services provider dedicated to ensuring access to justice for all low-income individuals and communities. We provide high quality direct legal representation, engage in systemic policy advocacy with the goal of effectuating broad-based change, and conduct community education and outreach. CLS has ten legal units covering a wide range of civil legal services.

CLS’s Family Advocacy Unit (FAU) seeks a staff attorney. This exciting and demanding position combines courtroom representation of individual parents with systems and policy advocacy to improve outcomes for vulnerable families in the child welfare system. This position will entail significant courtroom advocacy with a heavy focus on high-quality client representation.

Lawyers in the FAU zealously represent parents involved with the Philadelphia child welfare system in their effort to maintain or regain custody of their children. The FAU uses an interdisciplinary team model to provide high quality representation to these parents who are often facing complex issues that include domestic violence, addiction, mental health problems, poverty, housing issues, and utility issues. FAU lawyers also engage in non-litigation focused advocacy, including policy, administrative and legislative advocacy as well as organizing and teaching community and professional education sessions.

Lawyers may also be asked to provide supervision and support to paralegals, social workers, parent peer partners and interns who are providing advice, brief service, and some representation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2 years litigation experience preferred; will consider clinic or moot court experience for outstanding candidates
• Excellent oral advocacy skills
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Experience and ability to work with low-income and vulnerable individuals
• Excellent work ethic, organization, and communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest work
• Experience and interest in policy and other forms of advocacy
• High level commitment to racial justice advocacy
• Strong networking, relationship building and communication skills
• Exhibit sound professional and legal judgment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with child welfare or family law preferred, but not required
• Fluency in another language is helpful, but not required

To Apply: CLS will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. However, candidates are highly encouraged to submit their application by Monday, September 28, 2026. You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at OR "Apply Now". You can also reach out to Crystal Stackhouse (Hiring Coordinator) View email address on clsphiladelphia.applytojob.com. for any questions or concerns.

What to Include in your application: Please include a cover letter, resume, three professional references (at least two being past or current supervisors) identifying your relationship, and one brief writing sample (10 pages or less).

CLS Policy on the Use of AI in job applications:
Strong writing skills are a required skill for this position. CLS requires all application materials to be the applicant’s own, and prohibits the use of AI in application materials, including the cover letter, writing sample, and position-specific writing assessment if requested.  CLS reserves the right to decline to interview a candidate or rescind a job offer if an applicant misrepresents the originality of their application materials.

Community Legal Services, Inc. welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply, including people who have experienced poverty or housing instability, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply.  

CLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences would motivate you to work toward CLS’s mission and would contribute to the vitality and perspective of our organization. 

Compensation: This is a full-time position covered by the collective bargaining agreement between CLS and the Philadelphia Legal Services Union N.O.L.S.W./Local 2320/UAW. CLS offers a competitive salary based on experience. The current minimum starting salary is $65,000 for newly admitted attorneys, which increases with relevant years of experience and according to the provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement.  

Benefits: CLS offers a very generous and competitive benefits package including 100% employer paid medical (including gender affirming care), life, and short/long-term disability benefits, a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution, and a generous leave package, including 13 paid holidays and five personal holidays each year.

Community Legal Services, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. CLS, Inc. does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, CLS complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.