Assistant Public Defender - Child Advocacy Unit

Summary

Must be licensed and admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Montgomery County Public Defender's Office is now hiring for the position of Assistant Public Defender in our Child Advocacy Unit.

The Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender is committed to delivering the highest standard of legal representation to children and youth in dependency proceedings.

This position requires an attorney to represent children in dependency court matters from appointment through case closure, including shelter care, adjudication, disposition, permanency review, placement changes, and termination of parental rights proceedings and related hearings.

Attorneys in the Child Advocacy Unit are expected to maintain consistent, developmentally appropriate contact with clients, including regular in-person visits in the community and at placement settings such as foster homes, group homes, residential treatment programs, and other facilities, and to coordinate with caregivers and service providers to advance the client’s expressed interests and legal interests.

• Position covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
  
  

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Establishing and maintaining ongoing, developmentally appropriate communication with clients from appointment through case closure, including regular in-person visits in the community and at placement settings such as foster homes, group homes, residential treatment programs, and other facilities.
• Representing and advocating for clients at all dependency court proceedings, including shelter hearings, adjudications, dispositions, permanency review hearings, placement change hearings, and other emergency hearings.
• Meeting with clients in their placement settings and other appropriate locations, including foster homes and congregate care facilities, and collaborating with caregivers and providers to ensure the client’s needs and expressed interests are communicated to the Court and parties.
• Reviewing and analyzing the dependency record, including petitions, court orders, agency reports, evaluations, service plans, and relevant educational and medical information, and explaining the process and options to the client in an age-appropriate manner.
• Drafting motions, position statements, and proposed orders, and presenting persuasive legal and factual arguments to advance the client’s expressed interests and legal interests regarding placement, visitation, services, safety, permanency, and related issues.
• Collaborating with social service advocates, investigators, caseworkers, placement providers, schools, and treatment providers to obtain information, request appropriate services, and support a comprehensive representation strategy.
• Engaging in holistic representation practices, including advocacy related to education (including special education), behavioral health, medical care, and transition planning, when those issues impact the client’s safety, stability, and permanency.
• Working within the organization and with system stakeholders to advocate for improvements in dependency and child welfare practice that benefit clients; and
• Perform related work at the request of the Chief Defender or her/his designee.
  
  

Qualification Requirements

Education and Credentials

• Licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Valid Pennsylvania driver’s license and reliable transportation; and
• Spanish language proficiency preferred.
  
  

Experience And Skills

• Experience in juvenile dependency/child welfare practice, family court, education advocacy, or related advocacy preferred.
• Excellent organizational, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and youth of varying ages and developmental levels, using a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multidisciplinary partners (caseworkers, placement providers, schools, medical and behavioral health providers) and to advocate for appropriate services and supports.
• Willingness and ability to maintain a field-based schedule, including frequent travel for in-person client visits in the community and at foster homes and placement facilities.
• Demonstrated commitment to public service.
• Microsoft Office and general computer competence required.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Office environment.
• Prolonged sitting, standing, walking in an office environment.
• Significant and repeated use of a keyboard.
• Ability to travel to other locations within the Commonwealth, including secured facilities and placement settings (e.g., foster homes, group homes, and residential treatment programs), to meet with clients and stakeholders.