Legal Assistant

CHILDREN’S COURT AND GUARDIANSHIP LEGAL ASSISTANT The Alliance for Children’s Rights is seeking a dedicated, service-oriented Legal Assistant to join our Children’s Court and Guardianship Program. This role supports life-changing advocacy for children, youth, and caregivers navigating probate, dependency, delinquency, guardianship, emancipation, immigration-related, and vital-record matters. Spanish fluency is preferred. ABOUT THE ALLIANCE The Alliance for Children’s Rights provides free, holistic legal services and advocacy to youth and families impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Los Angeles County. Our attorneys, advocates, social workers, pro bono partners, and community volunteers help young people overcome barriers to stability and opportunity and access the education, health care, financial supports, and permanent family connections they need. Since 1992, the Alliance has helped more than 178,000 children and young adults. We pair direct services with local and statewide policy advocacy to remove systemic barriers and advance stability, equity, and justice for young people. Our collaborative, family-friendly culture recognizes that lasting impact depends on employees who are supported, connected, and able to thrive. THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE You will be an important member of a small, collaborative team supporting cases from intake through completion. Through organized case support, responsive client communication, careful recordkeeping, and coordination with legal and community partners, you will help children, youth, and caregivers navigate complex systems and pursue safety, stability, and legal protections. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Conduct detailed client intake and program interviews, enter case and intake data, prepare case summaries, communicate with clients about case status, and keep electronic records current. Open, organize, maintain, and close electronic and physical case files so records remain accurate and accessible. Participate in Children’s Court Advocacy and Guardianship case review meetings and support cases from intake through completion. Coordinate across Alliance programs, including Adoption, Benefits, Education, Healthcare, Transition Age Youth, and the Caregiver Support Initiative, to support holistic client service and inter-program case transfers. Follow up with clients, program staff, pro bono attorneys, social workers, outside attorneys, agency representatives, and service providers regarding case information or status. Support guardianship, emancipation, birth certificate, and related matters by conducting interviews and preparing legal forms, client declarations, briefs, and project materials. Supervise student interns or volunteers as assigned. Participate in project trainings, community outreach, intake coverage, and Alliance events. Complete administrative and operational duties, including copying, data entry, mail sorting, and filing. QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree, paralegal certificate, or equivalent relevant work experience. Spanish fluency is preferred. Experience with foster care or child welfare is helpful, and candidates who are eager to learn are encouraged to apply. Strong interpersonal skills, a commitment to community service, and the ability to build respectful relationships with people across a range of backgrounds and circumstances. Excellent organization, attention to detail, responsiveness, and the ability to balance multiple priorities. Clear, professional verbal and written communication skills, including one‑on‑one communication with clients. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Adobe, and Zoom. Reliable transportation and residence in the greater Los Angeles area. Commitment to social justice, collaborative problem‑solving, and client‑centered service. Target starting salary: $53,000 to $62,000. Final starting salary is based on relevant experience and internal equity. Qualified Spanish‑speaking employees who pass the Alliance language assessment receive a $1.02 per hour bilingual pay differential. The Alliance invests in employees’ physical and mental well‑being. Our benefits and workplace practices are designed to provide broad care options, meaningful time away from work, and flexibility for employees and their families. Benefits currently include: Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the employee‑only premium paid by the Alliance Life insurance and flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses Generous vacation time and paid holidays A 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment, independent of employee contributions ClassPass, which provides access to exercise classes and a broad range of wellness services, including massages and facials A flexible, family‑friendly culture that supports employees in balancing meaningful work with responsibilities outside of work HOW AND WHERE YOU WILL WORK This Los Angeles-based role offers regular flexibility in how and where work is performed. Employees may work from home or from the Alliance office on a regular basis, based on the responsibilities of the position and program needs. In‑person participation is expected when it best supports clients, colleagues, trainings, community partnerships, court‑related activities, or Alliance events. Candidates must reside in the greater Los Angeles area. The Alliance may adjust remote and in‑office expectations as organizational or program needs evolve. OUR COMMITMENT TO AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE The Alliance for Children’s Rights is committed to building and supporting an inclusive environment that values the backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences of our staff. We welcome candidates whose experiences connect with our mission and the communities we serve. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and are an equal employment opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination based on any characteristic protected by applicable law. The Alliance considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act. Applicants are not required to disclose criminal history or complete a background check before a conditional offer of employment. If a post‑offer background check raises a concern about a conviction directly related to the position, the applicant will have an opportunity to provide context, mitigating information, or challenge the accuracy of the report. This job description provides a general overview and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of the position. #J-18808-Ljbffr