Position Summary:
The Child Welfare Program at TLSC assists parents, families, and the public with understanding the Child Welfare System and procedures, and the legal rights and processes that accompany CPS cases in Texas, by telephone and in-person. TLSC's Child Welfare Program includes the Family Help Line and Kincare Legal Assistance Project and coordinates with other legal aid providers in referrals and service delivery via the Family Early Defense Network . The Child Welfare Program Managing Attorney will bring enthusiasm and commitment to Texas Legal Services Center's mission and values, and will demonstrate trust, leadership, service, and courage. The incumbent in this position is responsible for their caseload, making relevant referrals, supervising, and mentoring Child Welfare Program staff, coordinating and supervising various program activities, and meeting grant reporting requirements.
This attorney in this position is expected to:
maintain the highest ethical and professional standards as a member of the State Bar; adhere to the American Bar Association Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid; embrace and support TLSC's overall mission; and comply with all grant requirements, regulations, standards, policies, and confidentiality requirements.
*This is a grant funded position.
Essential Functions:
• Mentor and motivate staff by providing leadership, strategic thinking, and team building.
• Provide eligible clients with prompt, high quality, culturally sensitive, trauma informed legal assistance, or referrals to appropriate resources.
• Maintain current knowledge of family law and the child welfare system in Texas.
• Provide leadership and cultivate working relationships, internally, with legal aid providers, with grantors and other social services agencies in the community, to advance program and organizational goals.
• Lead and promote education efforts statewide and in local programs.
• Identify and publish self-help publications on laws that impact families in the CPS system.
• Actively participate in TLSC leadership team.
• Assist in the development and procurement of grants.
• Draft, circulate for review internally, and submit all program reporting required by funders.
• Participate in financial reporting including responsibility for timely submission of all financial reporting required by funders.
• Travel to locations outside of the Austin area.
Other Functions:
• Participate in task forces and meetings with program staff to receive input and to provide support.
• Develop, participate in, and oversee specialized training programs as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Competencies:
• Current knowledge and expertise of the law and legal system, including relevant parts of the law related to child welfare, family law, conservatorship, access, child support, enforcement of court orders and judgments, paternity, termination, adoption, negotiation and mediation, and the CPS system in general.
• Experience with leading, mentoring, and motivating staff.
• Proven ability to make tough decisions.
• Exceptional verbal, listening and written communications skills.
• High-level organizational skills.
• Strong time management and attention to detail skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with or the ability to learn LegalServer (TLSC's case management system), Adobe, Microsoft Office products, and social media tools.
• Experience using or ability to learn technology, including virtual meeting software/technology, such as GoToWebinar, Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Skype.
• Understanding of budget processes, grant requirements, and associated reporting needs.
• Ability to work with clients in a patient, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental manner.
• Ability to travel outside of Austin.
Education and License (Required):
• J.D. Degree.
• Licensure by the Supreme Court of Texas.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes.
Experience (Preferred):
• Five years' experience as a CPS caseworker or attorney representing children, parents, or the state in CPS-related cases.
Experience (Required)
• Five years' licensure as an attorney.
Physical Requirements:
• Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.
• Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force as needed, at times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
