ATTORNEY II (JO#5377)

JOB TITLE: ATTORNEY II

LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO/SACRAMENTO

JOB OPENING #: 5377

OVERVIEW

The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Attorney II for the Center for Families, Children & the Courts.

Attorneys in the Court Assistance Resources and Education (CARE) unit of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts provide legal assistance and materials to judicial officers, court-appointed counsel and others on tribal issues, juvenile dependency and delinquency, education law, probate and mental health conservatorships, guardianships, and other specialized legal issues.

This position’s particular focus is on juvenile law broadly, with an emphasis on ensuring delivery of high-quality dependency legal representation compliant with federal IV-E standards through providing legal support to the Federally Funded Dependency Representation Program (FFDRP); providing legal guidance on juvenile dependency and delinquency law to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee, including development of rule and form proposals; serving as legal subject matter expert to Child Welfare Council with emphasis on support to Chief Justice appointed cochair; and providing legal advice and counsel to courts regarding legal compliance and mandated duties in juvenile law. As subject matter expert in these areas it is expected that the incumbent will assist the court and justice partners, through legal research and review, written analysis, and development and delivery of legal curriculum on topics related to these areas.

The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, $130 monthly stipend toward public transit commuting costs, and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the Civic Center BART station in downtown San Francisco. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The successful candidate will be expected to work in the San Francisco or Sacramento office. A remote schedule may be available.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide legal support to Federally Funded Dependency Representation Program (FFDRP):

 Conduct legal analysis of federal and state eligibility standards for court appointed dependency counsel services and provide legal advice on requirements in contract templates.

 Draft court-appointed counsel procedures and guidelines for courts and attorney providers on legally eligible services and required documentation.

 Consult with court leadership on local provider compliance with eligibility standards and CFCC FFDRP staff to resolve eligibility issues arising from contractor claiming.

 Liaison with program and legal staff at Department of Social Services and federal Children’s Bureau on JCC and court compliance with match funding requirements.

Provide legal guidance to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council through analyzing juvenile and family legal issues, determining how to present the legal issues for consideration, prepare drafts of a proposal (California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms) for consideration, and preparing written reports and memorandum for consideration which frame the policy issues, provide analysis of legal issues, and assess the implementation and operational impact of the proposal on the courts:

 Conduct legal research and analysis to aid the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee in assessing recommended changes to rules, forms, and standards for juvenile cases, including related issues such as adoption, education, protective orders, and the extension of nonminor dependent benefits.

 For purposes of consideration by the committee(s) and Judicial Council, draft or revise the text of California Rules of Court; draft or revise Judicial Council forms.

 Draft memorandum and reports for consideration by the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee and the Judicial Council. This includes writing a memorandum entitled “Invitation to Comment”, which announces the proposal to the public and aims to garner public feedback; and writing a “Report to the Judicial Council”, which includes the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee’s recommendation with respect to the proposal. Preparation of these reports involves research, analysis, and evaluation of legal issues, presenting legal, policy, and implementation/court impact issues, and assessing possible alternatives for committee consideration and discussion.

Perform a range of legal counsel and advisory functions as a liaison to local courts, including analyzing and evaluating local juvenile court (dependency and delinquency) practice and procedure, preparing a memorandum with legal guidance to ensure the judicial officers and juvenile court professionals comply with current federal regulations and state law, and providing training and technical assistance as requested:

 Review and analyze court files to determine compliance with federal and state juvenile law and best practices. This involves examining documentation of findings and orders, written reports from the social services department and/or probation department, and any other relevant documentation in the court file. The attorney must determine whether the county is in compliance with the title IV-E of the Social Security Act; and if not, to provide legal advice and counsel to judicial officers to avoid possible fiscal penalties.

 Observe and analyze courtroom proceedings to learn local court practice and ensure legal compliance.

Serve as legal subject matter expert to Child Welfare Council on matters impacting courts and court operations. Provide legal guidance to the Co-Chair of the Child Welfare Council, appointed by the Chief Justice:

 Conduct legal research and analysis to aid assessment of recommended changes for juvenile proceedings;

 Determine how to present the legal issues for consideration, prepare drafts of a proposal and prepare written reports and memorandum for consideration which frame the policy issues, provide analysis of legal issues, and assess the implementation and operational impact of the proposal on the courts.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Juris doctor, and four (4) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney. After passing the state bar, work experience as a Law Clerk to a federal judge prior to formal state bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS − Current active membership with the State Bar of California.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

- Legal practice experience in dependency or juvenile justice cases.

- Knowledge of both federal and state mandates relating to the foster care placement of children.

- Knowledge of child welfare operations and practices.

- Familiarity with juvenile court operations and practices.

- Familiarity with the Indian Child Welfare Act.

- Familiarity with adoption law.

- Familiarity with probate and mental health guardian and conservatorships.

- Experience working with diverse populations.

- Experience working with court leadership; and

- Strong research and writing skills, including experience writing for a variety of audiences.

OTHER

Please note: if you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.

HOW TO APPLY

To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5:00 P.M. on September 3, 2021. This position requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions.

To complete an online application, go to job opening #5337 at https://www.courts.ca.gov/careers.htm

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (415) 865-4272.

PAYMENT & BENEFITS

$11,380.00 - $13,654.00/month per month

(Starting salary will be $11,380.00 per month)

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

Health/Dental/Vision benefits program

13 paid holidays per calendar year

Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave

1 personal holiday per year

$130 transit pass subsidy per month

CalPERS Retirement Plan

401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans

Employee Assistance Program

Basic Life and AD&D Insurance

FlexElect Program

Pretax Parking

Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)

Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Judicial Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, family care status, military or veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Supplemental Questions

To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, please provide a response to the following questions:

1. Describe the area that you feel is most in need of improvement in the dependency or delinquency system and possible ways of bringing about that improvement.

2. Based on your experience, please describe how the child welfare and juvenile justice systems can be more responsive to California’s diverse populations.

3. Extensive independent research, analysis, and writing on complex legal issues are required. Please describe your relevant experience in performing comparable work and indicate why you believe your experience and skills qualify you.