TEAMCHILD
TeamChild is a nationally recognized nonprofit serving vulnerable youth across Washington State. TeamChild is best known for its legal services program reaching children in crisis in King, Pierce, Spokane, and Yakima counties. Our clients are generally 12-24 years old and many are involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Our legal services program is designed to keep young people out of juvenile court by reconnecting them to education, healthcare, mental health, and housing supports. We work closely with public defenders, juvenile court staff and the community to positively impact the young person’s life while helping the youth to accomplish their goals and reduce further contact with the courts. The mission of TeamChild is to uphold the rights of youth involved, or at risk of involvement, in the juvenile court system to help them secure the education, healthcare, housing and other support they need to achieve positive outcomes in their lives.  In our work, we aim to move systems away from exclusion, arrest, and incarceration towards more effective strategies that have the best chance of promoting the well-being and success of our most vulnerable children.

At TeamChild we believe that racial and other social identities should be respected and affirmed. In support of this belief, we are building an equitable and inclusive organization and providing our team of staff, volunteers and Board members with the tools to address institutionalized racism and other forms of oppression. All members of our team are responsible for providing and supporting an equitable and inclusive work environment that will enrich our interactions with each other and our products and services. This responsibility provides the foundation for serving our clients and their families so their needs are justly represented and their desires amply fulfilled. For more information about TeamChild and the King County Office, see www.teamchild.org.

JOB OVERVIEW
TeamChild is seeking a full-time staff attorney in our King County office. This is an opportunity to be part of a collaborative team that is dedicated to client-centered legal advocacy and working to continually reflect and improve our client services and office and program practices.   Primary job duties include providing holistic civil legal representation to youth who are at risk of or already involved in the juvenile court and child welfare systems. Advocacy involves breaking down legal barriers to a wide array of community-based services and supports, including but not limited to, education, safe and stable living situations, mental health care and medical services, and other civil rights issues. Activities include legal advice and/or representation in administrative or judicial proceedings, negotiations or other dispute resolution processes, advocacy in juvenile court in partnership with public defenders to promote alternatives to secure detention, and collaboration with and referrals to community providers. The staff attorney is also responsible for other advocacy activities, including community engagement, training, outreach, and policy work on behalf of and in collaboration with our client base.  All staff participate in fulfilling our commitment to organizational transformation through training, workgroups, retreats, staff meetings, and other internal collaborations.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
We are seeking candidates who are committed to social justice and are passionate legal advocates for young people.  Candidates should work well both independently and as a team member, be respectful and passionate about working with people from diverse backgrounds, enjoy creative problem solving, and value the creation of relationships across disciplines. Additional qualifications include:

• Exceptional legal skills, preferably in the relevant areas of law: school discipline/special education, public health care, public benefits, re-entry issues, delinquency, child welfare, or other areas of youth-related law
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association or eligible for reciprocity or willing to seek admission to the Washington State Bar Association.
• Demonstrated competence working with young people, especially adolescents, and diverse people and communities.
• High level of integrity; commitment to following the Rules of Professional Conduct and upholding ethical standards, including client confidentiality and zealous advocacy for client-directed goals.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to travel throughout the county to meet client and agency needs (Including access to a vehicle to meet daily client needs within the first 90 days of employment).
• Strong organizational, technology (case management systems, Microsoft Suite, Google Drive), and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with community stakeholders (other advocates and social service providers) and co-workers.
• Anti-racist analysis and commitment to undoing institutional racism and other forms of oppression.
• Demonstrated alignment with TeamChild Values: Centering Youth, Anti-Racism, Wholeness, Accountability.
• Personal connection with our client communities preferred, including lived experience with juvenile court, criminal court, foster care, homelessness, and special education.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary is based on the TeamChild attorney salary scale and the candidate’s years of relevant worked and lived experience.  The salary range is $60,110 to $90,000.  For example, attorneys starting with 0-4 years of experience would be paid $60,110, and an attorney credited with ten years of experience will start at $69,709.  This position comes with full benefits (including medical, dental, vision, $1,000/year wellness benefit, EAP, generous paid time off, long- and short-term disability, and options to set up FSA and 403b retirement accounts).

TO APPLY
Please email a concise letter of interest and resume to jobs@teamchild.org . Please write “Staff Attorney – King County” and your last name in the subject line. No phone calls or email inquiries, please. Position open until filled. Resume review will begin September 16, 2019.

Before submitting your application, please check TeamChild’s website to make sure that this position is still open.