Dependency Staff Attorney

Dependency 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 Statement

Dependency 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

• Handle a full caseload representing parents and some children at all stages of the juvenile dependency process.
• Conduct client interviews and provide ongoing assessments of case merits.
• Confer with social workers, opposing counsel, and other service providers.
• Appear at all court hearings, prepare witnesses for trial, and participate in mediations.
• Present clients’ cases to the court during uncontested hearings and bench trials.
• Participate in frequent trainings to build legal knowledge, strengthen courtroom skills, and develop a deeper understanding of relevant systemic and social issues.

This is a full-time, in-court trial attorney position requiring extensive court appearances and daily client contact. When the court schedule allows, hybrid work is possible.

Qualifications

• Member in good standing of the State Bar of California (attorney candidates who are eligible under the California Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Rule may be considered).
• Knowledge and experience of juvenile dependency law preferred.
• Experience in courtroom advocacy preferred.
• Ability to work compassionately and respectfully with clients in crisis.
• High degree of professionalism and ability to interact respectfully with judicial officers while adhering to the court’s schedule.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest issues.
• Ability to flourish in a high-energy environment and multi-task as a productive team player.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills.
• Bilingual skills preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team of social workers and mentor parents.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage available.

Pay

Salary range is $90,000 to $100,000 depending upon experience.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Dependency Advocacy Center, our mission is to create an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment where respect, kindness, and empathy guide all interactions with our staff, stakeholders, and clients. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization. We firmly believe that every parent and child entering the dependency system deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. These values extend to all staff members.

We are committed to continuous learning and self-reflection on matters concerning diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Through ongoing education, training, and critical analysis of our progress, we seek to deepen our understanding and awareness of these issues and their impact on our clients and staff. By doing so, we can more effectively advocate for clients and promote all aspects of inclusion, including diverse representation in our leadership and staff.

We aspire to become an actively pro-diversity organization and a strong ally to all the communities we serve. We recognize the importance of intentional efforts to support individuals of diverse ethnicities, abilities, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, races, and religious affiliations. Incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility practices is central to our daily work at DAC.