About the Legal Aid Justice Center:
The Legal Aid Justice Center is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that partners with low-income clients and communities of color in Virginia to fight for racial, social, and economic justice. We understand that the harms our clients endure are inextricably linked to overarching systems of injustice. Together we are dismantling those systems through a combination of community organizing, litigation, policy advocacy, public relations, and individual legal services.
Founded in 1967, LAJC has offices in Charlottesville, Richmond, Petersburg, and Falls Church and provides services under six key program areas: Civil Rights & Racial Justice (focuses on the criminal legal system), Housing & Consumer Justice, Youth Justice, Health Justice & Public Benefits, Immigrant Justice, and Worker Justice. As examples of LAJC’s recent work, our lawsuit and organizing against the state forced reform of Virginia’s unemployment insurance system, including advocacy that resulted in the distribution of over $1 billion in illegally withheld payments to over 160,000 Virginians. During the pandemic, we demanded and secured a statewide eviction moratorium and emergency pandemic protections that helped hundreds of families avoid eviction. We reduced incarceration across the state, including reducing the population of a local immigration detention center down to historically low levels through a coordinated effort of organizing paired with impact and individual litigation. Our staff are on the front lines of some of the most important anti-poverty fights happening today.
With a staff of over 90, the past few years have been a time of exciting growth and opportunity for the organization. In addition to the growth of programmatic efforts including increased organizing capacity, LAJC has expanded its operations and administrative capacity, created new opportunities for professional growth and leadership among staff, engaged in ongoing race equity work, and explored changes to organizational structure to deepen its efforts to create long-term, sustainable, community-driven change.
LAJC’s latest strategic plan is available at https://www.justice4all.org/lajc-strategic-plan-2022-2026/#area%20d.
About the Youth Justice Program:
Through a mix of individual representation, policy advocacy, litigation, and organizing, the Youth Justice Program advocates for changes that keep young people with their families, in school, out of the criminal system, and protected from discrimination. YJP’s education advocacy priorities include:
Investing sufficiently and equitably in Virginia’s public schools;
Addressing issues in enrollment, language access, discipline, attendance and insufficient resources;
Reducing discrimination based on disability, race, socioeconomic status, national origin/language, and gender/sexual identity;
Creating accessible, inclusive, and equitable spaces, including language services for linguistically diverse students and caregivers;
Minimizing interaction with law enforcement and decrease punitive, disciplinary responses;
Respecting and supporting the agency and holistic well-being of students with disabilities and their families by equipping and empowering them to obtain the necessary supports and services they need to learn; and
Holding local school divisions and the Virginia Department of Education accountable for providing legally sufficient educational services for students with disabilities.
Representing youth and their parents in School Suspension proceedings, 504 and IEP hearings, and related appeals.
For more information about LAJC’s work and programs, visit www.justice4all.org.
About the Position:
Legal Aid Justice Center seeks an attorney who specializes in Education Law for its Youth Justice Program in our Charlottesville, Richmond or Falls Church offices. The Attorney or Senior Attorney (depending on qualifications) will work closely with organizers, social workers, families, community members, local organizations, statewide partners, and other LAJC advocates to identify and track systemic problems affecting our communities. The Attorney is expected to assist in addressing these problems through a combination of individual advice and representation, as well as impact litigation, community outreach, engagement and education, and state and local policy advocacy. The exact mix of duties will depend on the skills, experience, and interests of the person hired, as well as the needs of the program at that time.
This position will maintain a practice that primarily involves advising youth and their families about their educational rights, in addition to advocating for families and youth for education access and against discrimination in schools. Additionally, this position has the potential to incorporate cross-program work as needed, and may involve advising youth and their families on issues related to mental health; disability law; juvenile court involvement; housing instability; immigration; and family preservation as intersectional and holistic components of our work. Depending on experience and capacity, the Attorney may also be expected to work to build capacity for client representation and advice through coordinating pro bono attorneys, volunteers, and a referral network, as well as building self-advocacy capacity through resource development.
Job Duties:
Provide advice and counsel to individuals and community groups on education issues such as special education, school discipline, enrollment, and school-based discrimination.
Represent youth in individual cases in administrative proceedings; school discipline hearings; and, before state and federal courts.
Work alongside organizers and community members to build and implement impact advocacy campaigns in alignment with the Youth Justice Program’s core priorities.
Advocate for legislation, regulations, and policies that support young people, especially youth of color, those from under-resourced communities, and students with disabilities.
Participate in various work groups, coalitions, etc., and attend community events.
As needed, produce publications including fact sheets, issue briefs, reports, and op-eds.
Lead the Youth Justice Program’s statewide practice of providing legal advice and empowering families to assert their rights in the educational context. This may involve supervising and coordinating our intake system, coordinating volunteers and referrals, and leading our internal team focused on educational access.
Assist with advocacy communications efforts, e.g., drafting press releases, responding to media inquiries, and drafting content for social media.
When appropriate, support and/ or lead impact litigation in state and federal court.
Provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance as needed to Youth Justice Program, Legal Aid Justice Center policy advocates and organizers, and community partners.
Assist with the coordination of education law cases for pro-bono partners
This position may have the opportunity to assist with teaching the UVA Youth Advocacy Clinic, depending on location.
Required Qualifications:
Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial justice
Relevant experience working in education law or relevant child-serving areas of law.
Professional or lived experience advocating in under-resourced communities.
Outstanding oral advocacy, research, writing, and leadership skills.
Ability to work effectively across multiple teams.
Ability to communicate effectively across lines of identity.
Willingness to travel statewide occasionally.
Experience with IEP meetings and special education advocacy.
Preferred Qualifications:
Membership in the Virginia State Bar, or eligibility and willingness to become a member of the VSB promptly – either by passing the bar exam at the next date offered or meeting requirements to “waive” into bar membership without taking the bar exam. (Note: this position may be eligible for the newly enacted Virginia Supreme Court rule allowing for any attorney working exclusively for a legal aid organization to practice without examination as long as they are in good standing in another state).
At least two years of relevant experience working in education law or relevant child-serving areas of law.
Expertise in one or more of the Youth Justice Program’s core issue areas, including education access, youth decriminalization, and holistic family defense.
Familiarity with community lawyering approaches and/or youth organizing
Experience with coordinating and leading volunteers.
Familiarity with Virginia state and/or federal court practice.
Experience with impact advocacy, particularly discrimination claims.
Experience with school suspension hearings.
Applicants seeking the Senior Attorney role must meet the required qualifications listed above and the following:
At least three years of practice as an attorney in education law
Supervision experience, whether in a formal or informal capacity.
Complete the online application and submit a cover letter, resume, relevant writing sample, and contact information for three references. You can direct the cover letter to the hiring manager, Fallon Speaker. Please note, we will not contact references without advance consent from candidates. Online application link: https://secure6.saashr.com/ta/6191828.careers?ShowJob=503752362