RFQ Attorney Representation For Indigent Parents In Dependency and Termination Cases
State of Washington
RecentPosted Mar 18
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Posted: March 31, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Parents Representation Managing Attorney
State of Washington
Office of Public Defense
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$126,168 - $132,540
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Legal jobs →Closes
April 20, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This role involves leading a team to oversee legal services for low-income parents facing child custody battles in court, ensuring they get fair representation and support to keep their families together.
The job focuses on monitoring contracts with lawyers and social workers, providing training, and working with courts and agencies to improve the system.
It's ideal for an experienced attorney passionate about public defense, social justice, and helping vulnerable families, especially those with diverse backgrounds.
Key Requirements
- Active license to practice law in Washington State
- At least 5-7 years of experience in child welfare, dependency, or family law
- Strong skills in contract monitoring, evaluation, and oversight
- Ability to provide specialized training to attorneys and social workers
- Experience collaborating with courts, child welfare agencies, and multidisciplinary teams
- Commitment to anti-racist practices, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Understanding of local and statewide advocacy in public defense
Full Job Description
We Want You to Join Our Passionate Public Defense Team!
The Washington State Office of Public Defense Parents Representation Program (PRP) is seeking a full-time Managing Attorney to work as part of a motivated, diverse team of two supervising attorneys, five managing attorneys, one training coordinator, two social service managers, one parent voice advocacy manager, and five support staff, to promote anti-racist practices, quality oversight, and continual improvement of the PRP.
PRP Managing Attorneys monitor and evaluate client-services contracts with attorneys in accordance with constitutional and statutory requirements, and provide specialized training for contractors.
Managing Attorneys collaborate with OPD support staff, contracted attorneys, contracted independent social workers, local courts, child welfare agencies, and others as necessary to ensure parent clients receive quality assistance of counsel and related services.
They may also work in a variety of statewide committees or legislative initiatives, so it is necessary to understand how to work locally and statewide and understand how the advocacy may be different between the two.
For more information about our program please visit our webpage.
About the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD)
We are an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state.
Mission: Upholding the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.
Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.
Values: Justice ¦ Service ¦ Equity ¦ Excellence
We administer a variety of programs, including systemic improvement programs and programs providing direct representation. To learn about OPD’s programs, please visit opd.wa.gov.
We are dedicated to excellence in public law and indigent defense, and we seek talented candidates who share this commitment to client-centered service.
We value employees who bring diverse backgrounds in education, employment, community activities, and life experiences to enhance our office.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We vigorously pursue diversity in the work force.
Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 years of age, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated, prior child welfare involvement, and military veterans are encouraged to apply.
Pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment.
Program Description
The PRP administers contract attorney representation and independent social work support services for indigent parents involved in child dependency and parent rights termination proceedings in Washington family and juvenile courts.
Managing Attorneys and Managing Social Workers are responsible for overseeing all attorney contracts for a specified group of counties.
The PRP utilizes standards and protocols that historically have resulted in significant improvements in child permanency and family reunification.
Parents Representation Program Purpose Statement:
Ensuring a fair and equitable child welfare system by leading, administering, and supporting the effective and efficient delivery of multidisciplinary right-to-counsel services for indigent parents facing state intervention in the parent-child relationship.
Requirements
General Responsibilities
- Exercising mature judgment in potentially sensitive, high-stress situations.
- Participating in and fostering a collaborative working environment at OPD, statewide stakeholder groups, and in demographically diverse local court systems.
- Diligently following attorney and state employee ethics requirements.
- Conducting all activities with the highest degree of professionalism in furtherance of OPD’s Mission, Vision and Values.
- Periodic travel is required in Washington State, including occasional overnight travel. Out-of-state travel occurs infrequently.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Membership in good standing of any state bar association and the ability to become licensed in Washington State within 18 months of employment.
- Experience as an attorney practicing in dependency and termination cases.
- Ability to develop and sustain respectful professional relationships with a diverse community of contract parent attorneys, contract child attorneys, social workers, local courts, the Office of Civil Legal Aid, the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Guardians Ad Litem, child advocates, legislators, and others.
- Demonstrated understanding of and experience advocating against the impact of race, bias, discrimination, and differential treatment of communities disproportionately composed of Black, Indigenous, and people of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ or other sexual and gender minorities, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, limited English speaking persons, and others who have been historically disproportionately overrepresented in the child welfare and related law and justice systems.
- Ability to prioritize tasks, and to function independently as well as part of a team in a collaborative environment.
- Proficiency with computer use and the ability to become proficient in the use of specialized case management tools.
- Attention to detail and excellent writing and proofreading skills.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience working in the child welfare legal system in Washington state.
- Experience promoting systemic change in important aspects of the child welfare system or initiating juvenile court procedural improvements.
- Representing parents and supervising attorneys who represent parents in child welfare cases.
- Working with families living in poverty and/or from diverse cultures.
- Experience with contract management and supervising professional team members.
- Actual experience developing management strategies and/or tools to maintain quality service delivery to clients.
- Experience driving meaningful cultural change opportunities.
- Experience developing and delivering training to public defense team members.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practices.
- Lived experience with the child welfare and/or criminal court system.
Additional Information
Compensation
Annual Salary Range of $114,264 to $132,540
Compensation depends on qualifications.
Washington State employees are offered a comprehensive benefit package that includes paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, retirement and health, dental and life insurance coverage for self and family.
There are also options for deferred compensation, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, and eligibility for federal public loan forgiveness.
Application Process
To be considered, interested candidates must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above.) You must complete the entire online application. In addition to the online application, please provide:
- A letter of interest;
- Current résumé;
- A one-page, self-edited (not AI generated) writing sample describing how your management style is grounded in, and committed to, anti-racist practices and representation.
- At least three professional or lived experience references.
Questions about this position may be directed to Amelia Watson at amelia.watson@opd.wa.gov.
If you have problems navigating the online application process and/or uploading the required documents, email tracy.sims@opd.wa.gov for assistance. If any of the additional requested items are missing your application may not be considered.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We vigorously pursue diversity in the work force.
Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 years of age, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated, prior child welfare involvement, and military veterans are encouraged to apply.
Pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment.
Teleworking
Our offices are in Olympia, Washington. We have teleworking options available according to ODP policy and will be considered on an individual basis depending on the needs of the position and the availability of adequate equipment.
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