Staff Attorney

Organization DescriptionDependency Advocacy Center (DAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides interdisciplinary family defense legal services to indigent parents and children involved with Santa Clara County’s child welfare system and the juvenile dependency court. Our adult clients face the risk of permanent separation from their children due to allegations of abuse and neglect. Substance use disorder, intimate partner violence, and mental health concerns are commonly presenting issues, often rooted in the layered effects of poverty, marginalization, and intergenerational trauma. DAC was founded on the belief that traditional legal advocacy is insufficient to adequately represent our parent and youth clients. Our approach to holistic family defense utilizes an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, social workers, and mentor parents to create client-centered legal strategies designed to support the family’s long term success.Mission StatementDependency Advocacy Center provides zealous legal representation to indigent clients in the juvenile dependency system to promote timely reunification and preservation of families in a safe, healthy environment. DAC believes that every parent and child entering the dependency system has a right to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.Responsibilities and DutiesThe staff attorney will be responsible for a full caseload representing parents and some children at all stages of the juvenile dependency process. The position requires extensive court appearances and daily client contact. Representation includes client interviews, providing ongoing assessments of the merits of cases, conferring with social workers, opposing counsel, and other service providers, appearing at all court hearings, preparing witnesses for trial, participating in mediations, and presenting clients’ cases to the court during uncontested hearings and bench trials. The attorney will also participate in frequent trainings to build legal knowledge, strengthen courtroom skills, and develop a deeper understanding of relevant systemic and social issues.Desired QualificationsMember in good standing of the State Bar of CaliforniaKnowledge and experience of juvenile dependency law preferredExperience in courtroom advocacy preferredAbility to work compassionately and respectfully with clients in crisisHigh degree of professionalismAbility to interact respectfully with judicial officers and adhere to the court’s scheduleDemonstrated commitment to public interest issuesAbility to flourish in a high-energy environmentAbility to multi-task and be a productive team playerExcellent verbal, interpersonal, writing, interviewing, and organizational skillsBilingual skills preferredAbility to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team of social workers and mentor parentsSalary/BenefitsSalary: $85,500 annually. Medical, dental, and vision coverage available.Application ProcessPlease send cover letter and resume via email to DACjobs@sccdac.org. Cover letter to include answers to the following questions:Why are you interested in working as a family defense attorney and at DAC specifically?In order to best serve our clients and our community, DAC 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?COVID-19 Considerations:DAC is taking full precautions to keep their staff and clients safe. DAC requires that all staff be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

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