During this current situation with COVID-19, the ABA will
continue to accept and process applications for job opportunities.  We
will conduct our recruitment process via alternative means (virtual interviews)
for the time being.

The ABA recruits employees seeking opportunities for challenging and substantive work defending liberty and pursuing justice in the U.S. and around the world.  The ABA offers competitive employment benefits which include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k), commuter benefits, and more.

The ABA recruits employees seeking opportunities for challenging and substantive work defending liberty and pursuing justice in the U.S. and around the world.  The ABA offers competitive employment benefits which include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k), commuter benefits, and more.

 

The ABA Center on Children and the Law is seeking to fill a new Senior Attorney position as part of our Legal Representation project area. This attorney will conduct substantive child welfare legal work for the Center’s grant funded projects. The person in this position will focus on improving legal representation for parents, children and government agencies in the child welfare system. The individual will facilitate change efforts in multiple states, staff the National Alliance for Parent Representation and the Family Justice Initiative, assist with planning national conferences, provide web-based and in-person training and technical assistance, focus on implementing policies such as using Title IVE reimbursement for legal representation, create new tools and articles, and collaborate on multiple Center projects focused on legal representation.

This position is based in the Washington, DC office.

 

Principal Job Duties/Responsibilities
–Facilitate committee meetings on National Legal Representation Projects and complete necessary tasks to move the work of the committees forward including creating new tools and written materials.

-Advise on child welfare law topics and make policy and practice recommendations as part of national project work. Includes contacts with government entities in state and federal government as well as extensive collaboration with other national legal organizations and partners.

-Give presentations and trainings on child welfare law and public policy topics, facilitate stakeholder groups, design and deliver child welfare law content.

-Manage substantive projects. Work directly with State and tribal Court Improvement Projects (CIP), state and tribal judges, lawyers, social workers and people directly impacted by the child welfare system.

-Analyze laws, regulations, court rules and policies/policy proposals; prepare memoranda of law; advise on public policy; provide legal guidance; provide and deliver content for online learning experiences.

-Work on policy and practice related to engagement of people with lived expertise in the system, including parents, young people who were in foster care and kinship caregivers.

–Commit to promoting racial justice and cultural sensitivity in projects, training, and policies

-Assist in organizing national conferences

-Supervised by a Senior Attorney and may supervise more junior attorneys and/or other staff.

-Performs other related duties as required.

 

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

JD and admission to the bar in at least one jurisdiction. At least 8 years working in relevant specialized area of law. High level of skills in group facilitation, legal writing and research, oral and written communications, and organizational. Substantial experience in child welfare law and policy analysis. Experience representing parents in the child welfare system strongly preferred.

 

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience

Strong preference for attorneys who have represented parents in child welfare.

Applicants are encouraged to describe applicable experience in a cover letter as part of resume submission.

The American Bar Association is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with the American Bar Association please call 312-988-5188.

Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, IL, IN, DC, MD, VA, and TX.  Residency requirements may apply. 

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