Staff Attorney (Educational Success Project)
The Center is seeking a staff attorney for its Educational Success Project to address racial, ethnic and economic disparities in children’s access to a quality education and ensure that children of color and low-income children have access to equitable educational services. The staff attorney will provide legal services, training and systemic reform advocacy regarding education rights of at risk children and youth. This is a full-time position, primarily located in the Center’s Bridgeport office, with some limited legal representation of children and youth in Hartford. The position will remain open until filled.
Responsibilities:
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Provide legal consults and representation on education matters to:
- Children and families from Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford and select other Fairfield County towns, including but not limited to children in Pre-K and Kindergarten who are suspended from school;
- Department of Children and Families’ child welfare social workers in education matters for children in the care of the child welfare system;
- Children served by the Village for Families and Children in Hartford; and
- Develop trainings and informational materials on children’s education rights and collaborate with community-based organizations to provide these to parents and professionals to increase their knowledge about children’s education rights.
- Develop and implement systemic reform initiatives, including legislative, administrative, litigation and public education efforts and initiatives to improve education systems serving indigent children, including reducing suspension of pre-K and Kindergarten students as well as improving education of children in the child welfare system. Collaborate with other CCA attorneys to address systemic barriers that result in deep systemic educational inequities.
- Provide trainings for social workers and other clinical staff at the Village for Families and Children.
Experience and qualifications:
- Demonstrated commitment to advocacy for indigent and vulnerable children and youth from marginalized communities.
- Connecticut Bar admission or eligible for timely admission to practice.
- Minimum of two years legal practice with education law experience preferred.
- Cultural competence.
- Commitment to a dynamic advocacy model that combines direct legal services, training and systemic reform advocacy.
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
CCA is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. We seek to hire staff that reflect racial, ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic identities of the communities we represent, particularly those communities without access to civil justice.
Cover letters and resumes should be sent to Jay Sicklick, CCA Deputy Director, at jsicklick@cca-ct.org.