Staff Attorney (Children & Youth)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley advances the rights of historically excluded individuals and families across Santa Clara County through legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach. We serve over 10,000 individuals and families each year through our Housing Program, Children & Youth Program, and Health Program. Our attorneys, social workers, and advocates use legal advocacy as a tool for social change by crafting inventive solutions to the legal issues facing low-income people in our region.
With a staff of 90 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. Our work is collaborative and meaningful and includes plenty of opportunities for professional growth. As a staff, we actively engage in discussions about race, equity, and inclusion, and are actively working towards a Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-centered legal services practice that incorporates community and movement lawyering.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (LACY) program of the Law Foundation is seeking a staff attorney to represent youth through one or more of its projects. The casework will be in our immigration law practice. Responsibilities include advocacy on behalf of children and youth in seeking affirmative immigration relief primarily in the form of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). The staff attorney will also participate in community outreach such as know your rights presentations and tabling events. They will engage in systemic advocacy both locally and at the state and national level to influence policy impacting immigrant youth and families. Additionally, the staff attorney will work with the Public Defender’s office for clients with criminal and Juvenile Justice cases. Experience working with diverse populations of youth on legal matters is desired.
This position will also require participation in LACY’s regular team meetings, staff meetings, and program development activities including assisting the LACY Directing Attorney and Supervising Attorneys.
PRIMARY DUTIES
- Provide direct representation, advocacy, and information for youth in immigration law, and other matters, including seeking predicate SIJ findings in family and probate courts
- Engage in Systemic advocacy to influence local, state and national policy impacting immigrant youth and families
- Participate in outreach with community members to share information about available services and youth’s legal rights
- Collaborate with the Public Defender’s Office for youth with criminal and juvenile justice cases
- Participate in meetings with project partner and community agencies
- Respond to referrals from service providers and partner agencies
- Provide technical assistance to attorneys and service providers, and pro bono counsel
- Participate in regular meetings with LACY and Law Foundation staff
- Participate in general office upkeep duties, including computer data entry of case information, maintenance of billing records, filing, copying, drafting and filing court documents, and serving notice
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Member in good standing of the State Bar of California
- Bilingual and bicultural Spanish speaker
- Experience in courtroom advocacy and administrative advocacy preferred
- Demonstrated commitment to the rights of children and youth
- Ability to identify, investigate, and resolve client problems
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
- Ability to manage multiple clients in high-stress situations
- Ability to work sensitively and productively with minors with diverse backgrounds including those in crisis
- Valid Driver’s License or other transportation to attend meetings, hearings, home visits, and outreach presentations
- Excellent verbal, interpersonal, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills
- Experience working with individuals from multi-ethnic communities desired
The Law Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer. We strongly encourage people of color, women, people living with disabilities, older people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to apply. It is the policy of the Law Foundation to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. The Law Foundation will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
Candidates from historically excluded communities including from different racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, persons living with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community encouraged to apply.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled. Please submit the following HERE TO APPLY: (1) a resume, (2) three professional references, and (3) a cover letter that explains your interest and addresses the question below.
- To best serve our clients and our community, the Law Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued. How has your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to social justice, race equity and diversity among our staff?