The Center for Children’s Advocacy has an opening for a Director/Senior Staff Attorney for its Child Welfare Project.
The Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) is a non-profit organization, affiliated with the University of Connecticut School of Law, that is dedicated to fighting for the legal rights of Connecticut’s most vulnerable children. To learn more about the Center for Children’s Advocacy, please visit CCA’s website at www.cca-ct.org. CCA’s mission is to protect and promote the legal rights of Connecticut’s low-income children and youth so they have equitable opportunities for good health, a quality education and a successful transition to adulthood. CCA provides legal representation and advocates for system reforms to ensure at-risk children’s basic needs are met and they receive appropriate services from the juvenile justice, education, child welfare, health care and court systems.
CCA is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. CCA is also committed to advancing racial justice, cultural competence and anti-racism practices and policies internally as well as in the communities we serve.
Responsibilities:
• Providing high-quality legal representation to individual children and young adults in the juvenile court and at administrative meetings where abuse and/or neglect have been alleged, including advocating with DCF and other providers for appropriate services;
• Administrative and legislative advocacy on systemic issues related to child welfare and family regulation;
• Planning & participating in statewide pre-service and in-service trainings to contract attorneys new to juvenile court practice, as well as additional trainings as they may arise;
• Teaching and supervising UConn law school students as part of CCA’s Child Advocacy clinic, as well as ensuring management of the course as a whole;
• Providing technical assistance, support, and advice to attorneys statewide who seek assistance on child welfare issues, both on an individual basis and via listserv;
• Updating and maintaining pleadings bank on CCA website, as well as other relevant publications; and
• Collaborating with agency partners to improve policies related to the child welfare system
The Center is seeking an attorney who has a demonstrated commitment to providing high-quality legal representation for children in the child welfare system, via both systemic policy advocacy and traditional litigation. Applicant must be able to take initiative and work independently. Knowledge of child welfare law is necessary; a minimum of three years of related legal experience is required. Must be eligible to practice law in Connecticut, either as a member of the bar in good standing or with the ability to waive in, and have access to transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and other locations.
Email cover letter and detailed resume to Martha Stone at [email protected]