Children’s Law Center (CLC) invites applications for full-time staff attorneys to work with the Guardian ad Litem program to begin immediately/Summer 2019. Start dates are subject to change.
Children’s Law Center fights so every child in DC can grow up with a loving family, good health and a quality education. Judges, pediatricians and families turn to us to advocate for children who are abused or neglected, who aren’t learning in school, or who have health problems that can’t be solved by medicine alone. With nearly 100 staff and hundreds of pro bono lawyers, we reach 1 out of every 9 children in DC’s poorest neighborhoods – more than 5,000 children and families each year. And, we multiply this impact by advocating for city-wide solutions that benefit all children.
Responsibilities Lawyers in our Guardian ad Litem program represent children who are the subject of abuse and neglect cases in DC’s Family Court. CLC attorneys advocate for DC’s abused and neglected children, fighting to find safe homes and ensure that children receive the services they need to overcome the trauma that first brought them into the child welfare system.
CLC is committed to providing high quality representation. To achieve this goal, new attorneys participate in an intensive training course before representing clients and receive intensive supervision during their first year of practice. In addition, CLC maintains reasonable caseloads of approximately 35 cases and provides ongoing training opportunities for all attorneys.
Staff attorneys work closely with CLC social workers, investigators and special education attorneys to advocate, formally and informally, to advance the best interests of clients with regard to their safety, permanency, physical and mental health and education.
Requirements and Qualifications Bar admission in any jurisdiction required by start date Immediate eligibility to waive into DC Bar required by start date DC Bar membership required within 360 days of start date Valid Driver’s license Spanish a plus Commitment to working with low-income clients Cultural humility Persistence Ability to spot issues
Ability to problem solve and think creatively Strong independent judgement and decision-making Excellent interpersonal skills (building rapport, gathering information, teaming) Ability to multi-task Good time management and work/life balance Self-reflective, open to feedback and supervision
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. No telephone calls please. Send resume, cover letter, three references and writing sample (no more than 5 pages) via email to:
Guardian ad Litem Staff Attorney Search Committee Children’s Law Center 501 3rd Street NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20001 [email protected] Children’s Law Center has a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural humility. Our aim is to maintain an inclusive, respectful and equitable workplace and ensure all employees are culturally competent in order to most effectively achieve our mission and secure the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Children’s Law Center is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, matriculation, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, medication, status as a veteran, tobacco use, or other classification protected by law.