Flexible Attorney-at-Law

POSITION TITLE: FSAC ATTORNEY

Department: Family Support & Advocacy Center (FSAC) Reports to: FSAC Managing Attorney This position is grant funded for a 2-year period with the possibility of extension contingent on funding.

CLC is seeking a skilled and passionate Staff Attorney to join our Family Support & Advocacy Center (FSAC), a legal services program focused on preventing young families from entering the child welfare system. The program serves adults who are former foster youth/were previously involved with the child welfare system as children and are now expecting and/or parenting their own children who may be at risk of entering the system. This prevention-focused model provides (1) Interventions to support and stabilize these families, including advocacy to prevent dependency court involvement; (2) Other needed legal interventions to address needs including in the areas of housing, probate, and family law; The Los Angeles based Attorney will provide advocacy and guidance to clients regarding the child welfare process and their rights as parents. They will work with the parents to proactively engage with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to keep the parent and child together and prevent family separation or the filing of a dependency petition.
This position follows the Children’s Law Center (CLC) work model and requires an on-site presence approximately 50% of the time. Additional in-office days may be required based on operational needs.

Your Impact on the Mission – Excellence in Advocacy
The primary duties of the FSAC Staff Attorney include, but are not limited to:?
Advocate for Clients: Provide advocacy and guidance to clients concerning the child welfare process and their parental rights.
Client Engagement: Proactively engage with clients to encourage their interaction with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), with the aim of preventing family separation or dependency petition filings.
Collaborative Teamwork: Collaborate with a team, including three (3) Parent Support Case Managers and the program’s Managing Attorney to assess each client's unique needs.
Legal Support: Offer direct legal support to clients addressing legal issues such as housing, government benefits, probate, family law (particularly related to domestic violence), health, mental health, and/or other related areas as applicable.
Referral Services: Provide referrals to other legal service organizations when necessary to address legal issues.
Community Engagement: Work with low-income communities, demonstrating an understanding of their unique needs and challenges. Attend community events and present trainings to community groups.
Leverage legal expertise to navigate complex legal issues and provide effective support to clients.
Client Rights: Ensure that clients are informed about their rights as parents within the child welfare system.
Preventive Measures: Take proactive measures to keep parents and children together whenever possible, minimizing the need for family separation.
Requirements: The Assets You Possess/Essential Qualifications

A minimum of 2 years of legal experience; 2-3 years of experience practicing law in areas such as dependency, housing, government benefits, probate, family law (especially related to domestic violence), health, mental health, or related fields.

• A working knowledge of the Los Angeles County child welfare system.
• Possess the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in the practice of law, and maintain effective relationships with clients, families, service providers, and other child welfare professionals.
• A valid California driver’s license, reliable automobile, and auto insurance are required while working for the Children’s Law Center.

Employee Assistance Program
Company-Sponsored Benefits (Medical, Dental, Life Insurance) *
Up to 6% employer matched retirement plan*
Flexible working environment (depending on position requirements)
Paid vacation/sick/holiday time
CLC will pay the current year’s mandatory bar dues for all attorneys actively employed on the date bar dues are owed and who have no known plans to end employment with CLC within 30 days of the due date. CLC is the largest children's legal services organization in the nation, advocating for tens of thousands of children and youth in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Placer County foster care systems. We are a powerful voice for our clients, fighting in and out of the courtroom for family reunification, permanence, educational opportunity, health and mental health services, self-sufficiency, and overall well-being. We want all of California’s children to have the support they need to succeed. We work to accomplish this goal through direct legal representation for children, multidisciplinary advocacy and support, and public policy.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commitment : All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, individual with disability, medical condition, marital status, ancestry, military status, veteran status, protected veteran status, genetics or any other legally protected group status or non-job related characteristic of an individual as directed by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity—Reasonable Accommodation Assistance: Children’s Law Center of California is committed to maintaining an environment of equal opportunity.