Agency Attorney 3/Team Leader

Closing Date: 12th May, 2024

Description:

The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services, and provides subsidized child care vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community.
The Division of Family Court Legal Services is primarily responsible for representing The Administration for Children's Services in child neglect and abuse cases, permanency hearings, juvenile delinquency hearings and other child welfare proceedings in the five Family Courts. FCLS attorneys work collaboratively with ACS Child Protective Specialists (CPS), foster care agency case planners and other ACS staff and child welfare stakeholders to further the agency's mission on behalf of children, youth and families.
The work of the Bronx FCLS Unit is litigation-focused and all FCLS Agency Attorney staff including supervisors spend most of their core schedule (M-F, 9 AM – 5 PM) in court rooms (during COVID virtually) appearing before judges on the cases that ACS files in family court. In the limited time they are not in court, FCLS attorneys spend their time counseling Child Protective Specialists, preparing for trial or other hearings, contacting agency case-planners for Child Protective Specialists to ensure court orders are adhered to and generally engaging in all aspects of litigation. made up of attorney and non-attorney staff. Each team of attorneys is assigned to appear before one to two family court judges, and the judge's court attorneys and referees, through what is called “part dedication.”
Under direction, with wide latitude for independent judgment and unreviewed action and decision, engage in difficult and complex legal work with in the Division of Family Court Legal Services (FCLS). Participate in legal casework functions having significant procedural or policy consequences.
Specific duties will include:

• Provide strategic guidance and supervision of all lower-level Attorney Staff engaged in a variety of legal tasks, including the effective preparation of witnesses, evidence and other trial-related initiatives.
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 40 to 50 cases involving complex child abuse and neglect matters.
• Screen sensitive cases to determine causes of action and assign cases to lower-level Attorney Staff.
• Draft and review petitions, write up deferrals and conduct legal consultations.
• Review and analyze motions and other pertinent legal documents.
• Attend weekly case conferences and serve as a liaison between AC S and all external stakeholders.
• Provide on-site legal support to the borough-based Child Advocacy Centers as needed, which may include observing interviews and participating in multi-disciplinary meetings.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
3. Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086).

To be assigned to Assignment Level (AL) II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. To be assigned to AL III candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment.
Preferred Skills:

• The preferred candidate should possess the following: At least one (1) year experience as an Agency Attorney Level 2 excellent litigation skills ability to supervise and lead staff familiarity with ACS policies and procedures, including relevant child welfare laws and the Family Court Act.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness

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