Agency Name: Legal Counsel for Youth and Children

Position / Job Title : Attorney - Youth Homelessness Program

Location: King

Category : Attorney

Job Description: LCYC seeks a passionate, collaborative, and innovative attorney, committed to social justice and anti-racism, to provide direct representation, community outreach, and education to young people, ages 12-24 years, who are survivors of gender-based violence or domestic violence or are unstably housed in King County. Applicants must be a 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).

This position is based in King County. LCYC is a virtual non-profit. The attorney will work from home and spend most of their time in the King County community – meeting with clients and community partners in schools, shelters, and at court. The attorney may represent young people on a wide range of civil legal issues including, but not limited to orders of protection, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, minor guardianships, housing access, eviction prevention, record-sealing, legal financial obligations, name and gender marker changes, family law, emancipations, navigating child welfare systems, and public benefits. Applicants do not need existing expertise in these legal areas, but they do need to arrive at LCYC with a commitment to continual learning. Fluency in Spanish for this position is highly valued.

The attorney will provide legal assistance for young people through (1) direct legal representation (2) legal advice and consultation, and (3) legal education to youth and community partners. Working in in collaboration with youth and community providers, the attorney will help identify and influence systemic barriers to youth access to justice. Additionally, the attorney will be responsible for outreach, partner relationships and generating referrals in King County.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION:
LCYC is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff and board reflective of the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, those with lived experience, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. LCYC particularly values lived experience in our practice areas of child welfare, juvenile court, youth and family immigration, and youth homelessness.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
This is a full-time salaried position that requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, as well as occasional travel within the state. LCYC exempt employees have some flexibility in setting their schedules each week. This flexibility allows staff to adapt the timing of their work week with the scheduling needs of representing youth. This flexibility also allows exempt employees to achieve better individual balance between work and home.

The salary range for the position is $69,000 - $90,100, depending on experience. Spanish speakers are eligible for an additional $3,000 annually, beyond their set salary.

Supportive benefits include but are not limited to Flexible Time Away, medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan, and paid home office needs such as laptop computer, work cellphone, stand-up desk, and printer.

LCYC does not have a shared office space. All staff work from home offices. Travel for work is compensated at the Federal reimbursement rate.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Ability to live and practice in King County or within 60 miles of Seattle.
• 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).
• The applicant must have a valid driver’s license and access to a car as the position involves some travel.
• 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.
• Willingness to learn and utilize case management and software systems necessary for a remote office environment, following LCYC’s standards of practice.
• 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.
• Understands the effects of vicarious trauma and the importance of work balance and boundaries to support well-being.
• Committed to continual learning and responsive to feedback.
• Experience as a practicing attorney in juvenile dependency or related child welfare, education, public benefits, housing, family law, immigration or indigent defense field is strongly preferred. Litigation experience is highly valued.
• Fluency in Spanish is highly valued.

JOB DUTIES:
The attorney in King County will undertake a range of duties including, but not limited to the list below.
• Conduct onsite and virtual intake for youth ages 12 -24 years who are or are at risk of becoming homeless. Onsite 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 orders of protection, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, minor guardianships, housing access, eviction prevention, record-sealing, legal financial obligations, name and gender marker changes, family law, emancipations, navigating child welfare systems, 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 an LCYC Director or Supervisor.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the Youth Homelessness Program 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.
• Track time and pertinent case data from intakes and closing in LCYC’s case management system, following LCYC’s standards of practice.
• Regularly participate in all staff meetings, trainings, identity group conversations, and project specific workgroups on equity and systemic racism.

LCYC’s services are community based; we provide onsite intake at community locations such as shelters and schools. We meet youth in locations where they feel safe and can easily access. LCYC will continue to adapt our policies in line with public health recommendations and our legal responsibilities to young people we represent. The attorney is expected to remain in or near King County and work from there. All LCYC staff are required to provide proof of vaccination for COVID19.

ABOUT LCYC:
LCYC protects the interests and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights. We accomplish our mission through direct legal representation, strong community partnerships, and systemic advocacy. We have four program areas: child welfare, juvenile court, youth and family immigration, and youth homelessness.

LCYC provides community-based, holistic legal advocacy to expand access to justice for young people in Washington. LCYC was created and continues to evolve in response to the community’s needs. We meet youth where they are—geographically, developmentally, emotionally, culturally, and linguistically. We collaborate with the youth, family members, educators, service providers, and other community partners to ensure that the legal and non-legal needs of the youth are met.

LCYC empowers youth by helping them understand and engage in complex legal systems that impact their lives and their families. We help youth understand and assess legal issues, options, potential consequences, and opportunities, before the youth determines the path forward.

LCYC is a team of supportive, creative, risk-taking, and flexible attorneys seeking to disrupt the status quo. We are committed to continual learning. An essential part of that learning must be centered on anti-racism within ourselves, our organization, and the systems we encounter as advocates for young people. We are willing to fail forward, make mistakes and learn, and embrace change. We believe humor and teamwork are critical to doing this sometimes incredibly difficult work.

TO APPLY:
Please submit a letter of interest, resume, brief writing sample, and list of three references to Rhea Yo (she/her) at rhea@lcycwa.org.
For your application to be considered, please include a response to the following question in your cover letter: How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to anti-racism and equity internally and externally?

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. We hope to hire as soon as possible. New hires can start as early as July 1, 2023. This position will be left open until filled.

Link to Application: https://lcycwa.org/careers

Other Relevant Links:

Application Deadline: July 31, 2023