Program Attorney-Guardian Ad Litem

Full Job Description

King County Superior Court is accepting applications for a full-time Program Attorney-Guardian Ad Litem position.

The responsibilities of this classification include independently representing and advocating for the best interests of children as a Guardian ad Litem pursuant to RCW 13.34 and RCW 13.26 at Superior Court hearings, trials, depositions, related motions, and settlement conferences; and support Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) as directed by program management.

It is the vision of KCSC to be open to all, trusted by all, and to provide justice for all. To fulfill Superior Court's Mission, Values, and Vision, employees at all levels serve the complex needs of a diverse population of Court users. Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation. At KCSC, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging.

Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Work location: This position is located at the Patricia Clark Children and Family Justice Center in Seattle, but will require travel throughout the state, to include the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, WA and the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County Superior Court worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a Court-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work schedule: This is a full-time position. The Court's business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Work hours for this position may vary, including early mornings, evenings and weekends as needed. This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible.

Additional materials required: Please include a resume and letter of interest describing how you meet or exceed the requirements for this position. These materials are supplemental to your application. You must still completely fill out the on-line application with your relevant education and work experience. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you include relevant information only on the resume or cover letter. Applications that state "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Please note that you can attach multiple documents to your application. Your options are:
1) Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
2) Attach multiple documents/files in the attachment section.

Requirements

The following is intended to be a summary of the job functions for this position and does not reflect every task encountered to achieve these functions.

Independently represent and advocate for the best interests of children as a Guardian ad Litem at Superior Court hearings, trials, depositions, related motions, settlement conferences, planning meetings; and note motions on behalf of assigned children.

Provide representation for volunteer CASAs as directed by program management.

• Provide best interests advocacy for assigned children that includes, but is not limited to, drafting and editing of reports to court and other pleadings, negotiating agreed orders and settlements, attending planning meetings, preparing for trials and hearings, and visiting assigned children regularly.
• Attend dependency, guardianship and termination fact-finding trials, pre-trial conferences, depositions, review hearings, motion hearings, shelter care hearings, mediations and settlement conferences.
• Advise program staff and volunteers of new procedures, court decisions and statutes in a specialized area of practice.
• Provide legal advice and training to program staff concerning best interest advocacy and case-related matters.
• Research, write and respond to briefs, memoranda, pleadings and other legal papers. File motions, finalize reports for filing when submitted; prepare proposals to various operations committees.
• Provide training regarding legal issues for new CASAs and ongoing training related to Dependency and/or CASA practice; collaborate with colleagues to develop or revise training and curriculum materials as directed by program management.
• Interact with defense lawyers, AAGs, social workers, CASA volunteers, professional and lay witnesses, program staff, court staff, Judges, Commissioners, unrepresented parents and members of the public.
• Participate in various projects and committees concerned with the role of the CASA program in relation to the justice system, other governmental entities, and the public.
• Provide statistical workload information to program manager as necessary.

Qualifications

Law degree, active membership in good standing in the Washington State Bar Association, and three years of relevant trial and motion experience in either dependency law or family law, specifically domestic violence, substance abuse, child abuse/neglect, and mental health issues.

Experience in negotiating and training.

Knowledge of rules, guidelines and practices for GALs (Guardians Ad Litem)/CASAs, family social work principles, issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, and emotional/psychological disorders.

Knowledge of court rules and procedures including motions for reconsideration/revision. Knowledge of relevant community resources in dependency matters.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of training. Understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to child welfare and dependency related cases.

If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the candidate needed for this or other roles.

Additional Information

Special requirements: The ability to reliably travel throughout the state is required. Finalists are subject to the Washington State Patrol criminal background check and a reference check. Criminal background records are not automatically disqualifying.

Selection process: Application materials will be screened for qualifications, and the most competitive candidates will be invited for interviews.

Union membership: This position is represented by the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Council 2, Local 2084SC-CASA.

King County Superior Court is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.

If you have questions regarding this position, please call King County Superior Court Human Resources at 206-477-1536.