POSITION SUMMARY
The Alliance for Children’s Rights is seeking an experienced Senior Attorney to provide legal representation and advocacy for prospective adoptive parents in foster care adoption matters. The role also supports advocacy for adoption assistance benefits and services and contributes to policy reform. The Senior Attorney works under the general guidance of the Adoptions Program Director. Spanish fluency is strongly preferred.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE
The Alliance for Children’s Rights provides free, holistic legal services and advocacy to youth and families impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Los Angeles County. Our attorneys, advocates, social workers, pro bono partners, and community volunteers help young people overcome barriers to stability and opportunity and access the education, health care, financial supports, and permanent family connections they need. Since 1992, the Alliance has helped more than 180,000 children and young adults.
We pair direct services with local and statewide policy advocacy to remove systemic barriers and advance stability, equity, and justice for young people. Our collaborative, family-friendly culture recognizes that lasting impact depends on employees who are supported, connected, and able to thrive.
THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE
You will help children and young adults achieve legal permanency while ensuring families can access the therapeutic services, financial resources, and practical supports that strengthen adoptions. You will work alongside courts, public agencies, pro bono partners, and Alliance colleagues to resolve barriers and improve adoption systems.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Advise and represent caregivers throughout foster care and non-minor dependent adoption matters, from referral through finalization.
- Prepare and file court forms, petitions, briefs, and related legal documents; appear at adoption finalization hearings and other proceedings as needed.
- Apply California juvenile dependency and adoption law and relevant federal law, including the Indian Child Welfare Act.
- Evaluate legal, benefits, education, health care, and service needs and coordinate holistic referrals and cross-program support.
- Manage litigation, negotiation, mediation, and administrative advocacy in adoption and post-adoption matters.
- Develop, train, supervise, and provide technical assistance to pro bono attorneys, law firms, interns, and staff.
- Maintain and improve the Pro Bono Adoption Program Manual, training materials, and client resources in collaboration with program leadership.
- Coordinate with DCFS, courts, Children’s Law Center, law firms, social workers, and other partners to advance timely finalizations.
- Support Adoption Days, including National Adoption Day, and assist with program oversight and staff supervision as needed.
- Contribute to policy advocacy, community education, outreach, and the development of English and Spanish program materials.
- Maintain complete and timely LegalServer records and case management documentation.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor degree and active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
- Five to seven years of relevant legal experience.
- Experience in Los Angeles child welfare, family law, probate guardianship, immigration, or a related field.
- Litigation experience, including case evaluation, legal research and writing, discovery, negotiation, mediation, and hearings or trials.
- Experience with public benefits, administrative advocacy, supervision, and public speaking.
- Ability to develop sound legal strategy, manage a high-volume caseload, and work effectively with families, courts, agencies, and community partners.
- Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, active listening, presentation, and organizational skills.
- Commitment to social justice and a collaborative, collegial approach. Spanish fluency is strongly preferred.
This job description is of a general nature and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of the position.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND WELL-BEING
Target starting salary: $92,000 to $104,000. Final starting salary is based on relevant experience and internal equity. Qualified Spanish-speaking employees who pass the Alliance language assessment receive a monthly bilingual pay differential.
The Alliance invests in employees’ physical and mental well-being. Our benefits and workplace practices are designed to provide broad care options, meaningful time away from work, and flexibility for employees and their families. Benefits currently include:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the employee-only premium paid by the Alliance
- Life insurance and flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
- Generous vacation time and paid holidays
- A 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment, independent of employee contributions
- ClassPass, which provides access to exercise classes and a broad range of wellness services, including massages and facials
- A flexible, family-friendly culture that supports employees in balancing meaningful work with responsibilities outside of work
HOW AND WHERE YOU WILL WORK
This Los Angeles-based role offers regular flexibility in how and where work is performed. Employees may work from home or from the Alliance office on a regular basis, based on the responsibilities of the position and program needs. In-person participation is expected when it best supports clients, colleagues, court appearances, trainings, community partnerships, or Alliance events. Candidates must reside in the greater Los Angeles area. The Alliance may adjust remote and in-office expectations as organizational or program needs evolve.
HOW TO APPLY
Email a resume and cover letter to Nina Bailey, Human Resources Coordinator, at nbailey@alliancecr.org. Due to the volume of interest, we are unable to contact every applicant. No calls, please. Candidates selected for consideration will be contacted regarding next steps.
OUR COMMITMENT TO AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE
The Alliance for Children’s Rights is committed to building and supporting an inclusive environment that values all staff members’ backgrounds and perspectives in our work. We welcome candidates with lived experiences that relate to the Alliance’s work and mission. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and prohibit discrimination against employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other unlawful basis.
The Alliance for Children’s Rights will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the Alliance is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage.