Children’s Court and Guardianship Legal Assistant

Children's Court And Guardianship Legal AssistantThe 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.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 180,000 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.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 include conducting detailed client intake and program interviews, entering case and intake data, preparing case summaries, communicating with clients about case status, and keeping electronic records current. You will also open, organize, maintain, and close electronic and physical case files so records remain accurate and accessible. Participation in Children's Court Advocacy and Guardianship case review meetings and supporting cases from intake through completion is required. Coordination 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 is also part of the role.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 include a 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 are required. Excellent organization, attention to detail, responsiveness, and the ability to balance multiple priorities are also necessary. Clear, professional verbal and written communication skills, including one-on-one communication with clients, are required. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Adobe, and Zoom is needed. Reliable transportation and residence in the greater Los Angeles area are required. Commitment to social justice, collaborative problem-solving, and client-centered service is essential.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 an hourly 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; and a flexible, family-friendly culture that supports employees in balancing meaningful work with responsibilities outside of 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.Email a resume and cover letter to Juan Guzman at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please describe your interest in joining the Alliance, your relevant experience, and how you learned about the position. Due to the volume of interest, we are unable to contact every applicant. No calls, please. Candidates selected for consideration will be contacted regarding next steps.The Alliance for Children's Rights is committed to building and supporting an inclusive environment that values all staff members' backgrounds and perspectives in our work. We welcome candidates with lived experiences that relate to the Alliance's work and mission. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and prohibit discrimination against employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other unlawful basis. The Alliance for Children's Rights will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the Alliance is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage.