Partners for Justice (PFJ) is seeking an attorney who can provide expert family defense legal services for parents who are represented by public defenders in PFJ partner locations across California. The majority of people in the criminal legal system are parents, and their connection with (and custody of) their children can be permanently impacted by a criminal case, no matter how minor their alleged misconduct. While these parents get public defenders, they also need a different kind of legal expertise: a family attorney who can guide and counsel them to ensure the best chance of keeping their family united.
PFJ, in conjunction with the California Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD), is piloting a Parent Defense Project to make family law expertise available to public defenders and their clients, ensuring better outcomes for families. The attorney will be embedded as a full-time family defense practitioner with the Office of the State Public Defender in California. The attorney will provide advice and counsel to public defender clients in select jurisdictions where PFJ has embedded teams, and may directly represent a limited number of individual clients where appropriate. The attorney will also act as a resource for public defenders around the state, advising them and their clients on how to obtain family-safe negotiated outcomes, and developing training resources and materials.
Key responsibilities include:
1. Advice & Counsel: Provide consultations and ongoing coaching to clients representing themselves in family and probate court proceedings; Draft forms and declarations for clients to file pro per in family and probate proceedings; Advocate for clients with case workers, other parents, and Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) case managers; Coordinate between clients and appointed dependency attorneys, supporting with legal research, mitigation, and communication.
2. Training & Resource Development: Create know-your-rights resources for parents, criminal defense attorneys, and PFJ Advocates; Train PFJ Advocates to issue spot for family law issues and to work collaboratively with the Parent Defense Project on cases; Develop reference guides for frequently interacting areas of criminal and family law, such as Family Code § 3044 and dependency cases that arise from arrests.
3. Family “Padilla” Consults: Advise California public defenders on family law implications of possible plea deals; Conduct legal research on interactions between outcomes of criminal cases and consequences in dependency, family, and probate court; Provide personalized advice to public defenders and clients, empowering clients to pursue criminal case resolutions that are compatible with their family reunification goals.
4. Direct Representation: Pending PFJ’s ability to meet certain insurance requirements, potentially serve as attorney of record for a limited number of clients in family and probate court proceedings where appropriate; Manage all aspects of case management and litigation, including filing or responding to initial pleadings, appearing in contested hearings, and advocating on clients’ behalf with opposing counsel and other parties; Represent clients in hearings pursuant to CA Family Code § 3044 to enable custody determinations in their favor; Work as “authorized agent” in child support cases to pursue modifications and arrears forgiveness.
PFJ is deeply committed to justice, equity, and inclusion in hiring. People with lived experience or identities that overlap with PFJ’s clients are strongly encouraged to apply for this role.
Desired skills and qualifications include:
1. JD and minimum of two years’ experience as a practicing attorney with an emphasis in family law, including probate and general civil.
2. Current active membership and good standing with the State Bar of California.
3. Excellent oral and written communication and advocacy skills.
4. Bilingual proficiency in Spanish (highly desirable).
5. Familiarity with public defense, especially in one or more California jurisdictions, is preferred.
6. Experience working remotely with distributed teams and/or working in a start-up environment (The attorney will be housed in OSPD’s Oakland office, but will likely work remotely much of the time and / or travel to jurisdictions across California).
7. Commitment to PFJ’s mission and to our vision of collaborative, client-centered representation for low-income people involved in the criminal legal system.
8. Dedication to serving racially or socioeconomically marginalized communities.
9. Ability to assume responsibility quickly and work independently and efficiently.
10. Active member of the California Bar
Please send a cover letter, resume, and two references to [email protected] with “Attorney – Parent Defense Project” in the subject line. Be advised that if you do not include this subject line, we may not receive your application. More information may be found on our website at www.partnersforjustice.org/careers-and-internships/national-team.
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