Contractual Assistant Public Defenders: Better Together Early Family Advocacy Program

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Job location
200 Washington Ave
Towson, MD 21204
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Office of the Public Defender
Street address: 
6 Saint Paul Street
City: 
Baltimore
State: 
Maryland
ZIP: 
21202
Organization URL: 
https://opd.state.md.us/
Job type: 
Legal - Defender
Position Description: 

The Better Together Early Family Advocacy Program supports parents, at risk of losing their children to foster care, through a multidisciplinary team of lawyers, social workers, and parent advocates. Each professional provides specialized services tailored to the client's needs.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
● Protect clients' Constitutional rights to raise their children by providing prepetition legal
advice when parents are under investigation by the Department of Social Services Child Protective Services (CPS).
● Advocate for families navigating CPS involvement.
● Provide legal counsel and advocacy for adjacent legal family matters (i.e. protective and custody matters).
● Organize community outreach for the Better Together Program.
● If a CINA petition is filed, gather evidence and prepare a transfer memo for the assigned attorney.
● Collaborate with the multidisciplinary defense team.
● Keep records to track case outcomes.
● Communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and service providers.
● Pursue continuous professional development and supervise law school interns.

Salary: The salary range for these positions is $84,000.00-$118,000.00, depending on experience.

Requirements: 

Core Competencies & Requirements
● Demonstrated commitment to serving marginalized communities and dedication to dismantling racist, prejudiced, unfair systems.
● Ability to work independently and autonomously.
● Compassion and empathy.
● Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people
with different backgrounds and experiences.
● Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, diverse, team-oriented environment.
● Strong organizational, legal, and administrative skills necessary to handle a high caseload with short deadlines.
● Prior experience or exposure to CINA/TPR, Criminal, Civil, Juvenile, or Family Law.
● Strong communication and client advocacy skills.
● Active membership in good standing in the Maryland Bar or Bar of another state.

To apply: 

Click here to learn more about the positions and to apply today.

Notes: 
As a State agency, the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. MOPD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Assistant Public Defenders are full-time employees who serve at the pleasure of the Public Defender. Criminal Procedure Art., Section 16-203(d). Assistant Public Defenders cannot engage in the private practice of law while in these positions.
Salary range: 
Dependent on Experience
Submission deadline: 
Monday, August 19, 2024

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