Advocate attorney office

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission
Working Title: GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 13TH CIRCUIT- ATTORNEY- 21012883
Hybrid, Full Time Attorney

STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE

(This position has the ability to be flexible for a remote work schedule after successful onboarding.)

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned and neglected children in Florida’s dependency court proceedings. The Office upholds the highest standards of integrity, excellence and child centered representation. Guardian ad Litem Attorneys are assigned by the Office to represent children as part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes a child welfare professional and hopefully a community volunteer or pro bono attorney. In addition, dependency judges rely on the Guardian ad Litem to provide them with thorough and accurate information regarding the children under the court’s jurisdiction. More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at .

Actual total compensation will vary based on insurance and retirement elections.

As a fulltime employee, your insurance rate will be significantly low due to the contribution of the State of Florida. While the rates are higher for halftime employees, health insurance options are still available to you as long as you are in a salaried position.

State of Florida Retirement package – Pension or investment plan (3% employee contribution required)

• (9) Paid state holidays
• (1) Paid personal holiday
• (Life insurance $25,000 is provided by the state at no cost to you for all FTE positions. Additional supplemental insurances are available such as dental, vision, disability, etc.
• No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida
• No mandatory night/weekend/holiday scheduled shifts
• Introductory training on guardianship practice, dependency law and practice fundamentals as well as best practice guidance for attorneys communicating with and representing children.
• Ongoing live in-person trainings and webinars on case law, evidence, legal writing, trial skills, and ethics which fulfills CLE requirements. Annual advanced litigation skills training.
• Online training academy with a catalog of introductory and advanced courses on topics to include dependency law, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, psychotropic medications, independent living, developmental disabilities, trauma, human trafficking, educational advocacy, and more.
• Lexis Nexis legal research search engine access.

This position has the ability to be flexible for a remote work schedule after successful onboarding.
Work is performed under the supervision of the Managing Attorney or his or her designee.
Guardian ad Litem Attorneys are assigned by the Office to represent children and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team , representing each child with a focus on timely achievement of permanency and normalcy for the child.
The work involves contact with people in stressful situations, and the incumbent must exercise discretion in dealing with confidential and extremely sensitive issues before the court.
The incumbent reviews case files to identify legal issues, conducts an independent investigation of the facts of the case, researches and develops legal strategies for the cases, files pleadings, and motions, and attends court proceedings including, but not limited to, hearings, depositions, and mediations, and meets with Guardian ad Litem staff, witnesses, collateral contacts pertinent to the case, and the children represented by the Office.
The Attorney represents, advocates, and negotiates for the assigned children inside and outside the courtroom. Incumbents in this class report directly to the Managing Attorney of their assigned Circuit for all activities related to the practice of law; and also works under the operational and administrative supervision of the Circuit Director.

Possession of legal skills and knowledge sufficient to represent the children appointed to the Office as evidenced by admission to The Florida Bar. Ability to advocate effectively in court on behalf of the child.
Knowledge of juvenile law, including relevant rules of procedure and evidence, and guardian ad litem legal representation for children.
Ability to communicate effectively and deal tactfully with individuals involved in litigation and stressful situations. Ability to utilize a personal computer, including software programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Graduation from an accredited law school, membership in the Florida Bar. Candidates may be considered pending admission if granted by the Executive Director or their designee.
An exception for the required experience may be granted by the Executive Director or his designee.

Please navigate to the following website: to apply for this position:

Scroll down to the link, “Submit Your Guardian ad Litem Employment Application Here.”
Complete the “mini” job application and attach your current resume.
Email your mini application and resume directly to View email address on us.fitly.work

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at View phone number on us.fitly.work on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center View phone number on us.fitly.work). All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.