POSITION SUMMARY
The Alliance for Children’s Rights seeks a Benefits Staff Attorney to assist in securing funding
to support children living in out-of-home care. Experience with advocating for youth in the
foster care, Dependency Court and/or Child Welfare System and litigating writs of
administrative mandamus are helpful but not mandatory. Spanish fluency is strongly preferred
but not required. This is an exempt, full-time paid position.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE
The Alliance for Children’s Rights is a nonprofit organization that provides free, holistic legal services and advocacy to youth and families impacted by child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Los Angeles County and works to enact policy changes statewide. Our lawyers, advocates and social workers, together with hundreds of pro bono attorneys and community volunteers, work to ensure young people in foster care and guardianships can overcome barriers to stability and success and access to the education, healthcare, and financial supports they need. Since 1992, we have helped over 150,000 children and young adults. For more information visit: www.allianceforchildrensrights.org.
WHAT YOUR IMPACT WILL BE
- The Benefits Staff Attorney assists the benefits program in securing funding to support children
living in out-of-home care. Benefits are essential to ensure a stable environment for youth and
their caregivers. The Benefits program advocates for the removal of systemic barriers from a perspective of equity and intersectionality. The person in this position has a wonderful
opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children living in foster care and poverty.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Benefits Program Director, the Benefits Staff Attorney will perform the following responsibilities:
- Analyzing public benefits issues that arise for children and caregivers in the child welfare system.
- Representing caregivers to secure public benefits in various proceedings, including but not limited to administrative fair hearings, re-hearings, and writs of administrative mandamus.
- Supporting policy team and supervising attorneys with impact litigation and both local and
statewide policy advocacy. - Preparing case summaries and files for placement of cases with pro bono attorneys.
- Preparing case summaries and files for placement of cases with pro bono attorneys.
- Assisting with trainings and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys, staff, and community
partners. - Helping to train and supervise volunteers and law clerks.
- Assisting with developing and updating benefits materials for clients, pro bono attorneys, and
the community. - Maintaining knowledge of current trends and policies in public benefits that affect children and
families in the child welfare system. - Assisting with the supervision of Intake, identifying legal issues and strategies, and training
and providing guidance to student interns and staff on benefits issues. - Conducting community outreach and trainings and work with service providers and community
partners, to maximize effective resources and supports for families and children. - Completing additional administrative duties including data entry and filing.
- Performing other duties as required.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS
- JD degree required.
- Active or pending membership in the California state BAR.
- Experience in the foster care, Dependency Court and/or child welfare system is helpful.
- Experience with public benefits, administrative advocacy and/or public speaking is helpful.
- Experience with civil litigation and/or writs of administrative mandamus is helpful.
- Ability to speak Spanish is strongly preferred.
Experience and skills
- Excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skills.
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills – ability to communicate effectively with clients, attorneys, child welfare agencies, the judiciary and the public.
- Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.
- Strong desire to help others.
- Ability to manage a high-volume caseload.
- Self-starter.
This job description is of a general nature and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of the position.
COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS:
This position would work typically from our Los Angeles office. However, due to Covid-19, this position will temporarily work remotely from home. This position may be asked to return to work in the office at any time at the employer’s discretion. In office presence will be required as needed at the Director and employee’s discretion for general Alliance events, for training and collaboration and to help manage Benefits cases.
Vaccination Requirement
The Alliance is committed to prioritizing and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our employees, their families, our clients, and members of our community against the COVID-19 coronavirus. In response to COVID-19 and the increased transmissibility with recent variants, and to support a safe environment for everyone, all new Alliance employees must provide original documentation confirming they are fully vaccinated, and or evidence of an approved qualifying medical exemption or religious held belief exemption at the time of hire.
Salary Range
This is an exempt, full-time paid position, with target starting annual salary in the range of
$69,000 -$75,000 DOE. Benefits include generous vacation and paid holidays; comprehensive
health plans covering 100% of the employee cost of medical, dental and vision insurance; life
insurance; flexible spending accounts for childcare and health expenses; generous retirement
savings plan with company contributions to your 403(b) after one year of employment, and
discounts on fitness memberships and other activities.
TO APPLY
Please email resume and cover letter to Denise Velasquez, Director of Human Resources at dvelasquez@alliancecr.org. Due to a high volume of interest, we are not able to contact each interested applicant. If selected for consideration, candidates will be contacted to discuss our recruitment process and next steps. No calls please.
The Alliance for Children’s Rights is committed to building and supporting a culturally diverse and inclusive environment that values all staff members’ backgrounds and perspectives in our work. We strongly encourage individuals from all traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. 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.
