Job Description
ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL
Public Counsel is the largest pro bono public interest law firm in the country. Founded in 1970, it is dedicated to advancing equal justice under law and addressing economic, racial, social, and other inequities by delivering free legal and social services to the most vulnerable members of our community. Public Counsel operates eight legal projects: Children’s Rights, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Veterans’ Rights, the Audrey Irmas Project for Women & Girls’ Rights, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law.
Public Counsel has a full-time staff of over 130. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities.
ABOUT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS PROJECT
Public Counsel’s Children’s Rights Project (CRP) serves children, youth, and their families on a variety of legal issues, including probate legal guardianship, public benefits, and adoption, and issues affecting transition age youth. Public Counsel’s Guardianship Project operates a free in-person self-help legal clinic at the Stanley Mosk courthouse two days each week. All litigants are assisted in pro per with a wide variety of pleadings related to guardianship matters.
JOB SUMMARY
In collaboration with other team members, the Guardianship Staff Attorney will:
- Assist litigants with guardianship and related petitions at the in-person clinic;
- Supervise and manage volunteers;
- Conduct legal research related to guardianship issues;
- Develop informational materials for caregivers seeking guardianships and parents seeking to end guardianships;
- Engage in local and statewide policy advocacy related to guardianship; as time allows; and
- Other job duties as necessary.
ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- California bar membership is preferred, but will accept applications from applicants awaiting bar results;
- Zero to four years of experience in legal advocacy;
- Excellent oral and written communication, and creative problem-solving skills;
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within diverse coalitions;
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams;
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and effectively prioritize workload;
- Ability and willingness to staff the courthouse clinic located in the Stanley Mosk courthouse in downtown Los Angeles at least three days per week, remote work possible for the two remaining days;
- Ability to communicate in an empathetic and professional manner with litigants;
- Commitment to gender/racial/social justice and the mission of Public Counsel.