STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION
Clark County, WA
Full-time, exempt

LCYC seeks a passionate, collaborative, and innovative advocate, committed to social justice and anti-racism, to provide direct representation, community outreach, and education to young people 12-24 years who are unstably housed, in dependencies, Becca proceedings or minor guardianships in Clark County. 

The attorney in this position is expected to live in Clark County. LCYC is a virtual non-profit – the attorney will work from home and spend their time in Clark County, meeting with youth and community partners in schools, shelters, and at court. The attorney will represent young people on a wide range of civil legal issues including, but not limited to housing, emancipations, public benefits, employment, education, orders of protection, family law, minor guardianships, dependencies, Becca proceedings and medical debt. Applicants do not need existing expertise in these legal areas, but they do need to arrive at LCYC with a commitment to continual learning.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Ability to live and practice in Clark County.
• Active member of the Washington State Bar Association or qualify for admission by motion from another state under Washington State Court rule APR 3(c)(1).
• Demonstrated commitment to LCYC’s mission of protecting the interest and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights.
• Commitment to and demonstrated interest in engaging in culturally competent relationships and applying an anti-racist lens to program operations, community partnerships, and supporting young people.
• Demonstrated interest and ability in working with youth and families of diverse racial, cultural, socio-economic backgrounds and inspire their confidence.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated.
• Ability to communicate legal concepts, options, and potential outcomes in a developmentally appropriate manner with youth.
• Ability to work professionally with youth and diverse community partners, developing a relationship of trust and confidence.
• Ability to be flexible, adjusting to the needs of youth, community, and organization.
• Ability to engage with the community and partners to generate referrals. Creativity and self- motivation in this area is highly desirable.
• Ability to create and deliver presentations to youth and community providers to form relationships and reach potential clients.
• Committed to continual learning and responsive to feedback.
• The applicant must have a valid driver’s license and access to a car as the position involves some travel.
• Experience as a practicing attorney or law school work/internship/externship; past experience in juvenile dependencies or related child welfare, education, public benefits, housing, family law, immigration or indigent defense field is strongly preferred.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is highly valued.

JOB DUTIES:
The staff attorney in Clark County will undertake a range of duties including, but not limited to the list below.
• Conduct onsite intake for youth ages 12 -24 years who are or are at risk of becoming homeless. Intake is conducted regularly at local shelter(s), drop-in center(s), and school(s). Intake times may fall outside of usual business hours. Attorneys also process phone and e-mail intakes for new referrals.
• Initiate and continue outreach with community partners.
• Provide youth with legal advice, referrals, mediation, and in-court representation as needed on a variety of legal matters including, but not limited to minor guardianships, orders of protection, housing access, eviction prevention, record-sealing, legal financial obligations,
name and gender marker changes, family law, benefits, truancies, child welfare, CHINs/ARY dependencies, emancipations, navigating child welfare systems, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and public benefits.
• Investigate each case; analyze facts in light of relevant legal considerations; conduct legal research; prepare litigation strategy; prepare legal memoranda, motions and briefs, and argue specific legal motions and pleadings; litigate evidentiary hearings; examine and cross-examine witnesses.
• Partner with local community service providers, school staff, shelter staff, court staff, young people, and LCYC Director of Legal Services on the direct delivery of services and continual improvement of the service model and its local adaptation.
• Present trainings for community providers, school staff, shelter staff, court staff, service providers and/or youth.
• Participate in regular case staffings with LCYC Director of Legal Services or Supervisor
• Participate in weekly meeting with Youth Homeless Team, general staff monthly meetings and an annual retreat with all LCYC staff.
• Staff cases, problem solve, and identify trends and systemic barriers as an active member of LCYC.
• Participate in trainings to continually improve the advocacy provided to the youth LCYC serves.
• Timely track hours, expenses, and pertinent case data from intakes and closing in LCYC’s online case management system.
• Regularly participate in all staff meetings, trainings, and identity group conversations, and project specific workgroups on equity and systemic racism.

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