Kinship Care Unit Staff Attorney

Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks a Staff Attorney to work in its Kinship Care Unit located in downtown Atlanta. Our non-profit law firm represents low-income people in a variety of civil legal matters including family, housing, consumer, public benefits, education and health law. The Kinship Care Unit’s primary goal is to stabilize family relationships for children living with a non-parent caregiver (relative or fictive kin). We assist with adoptions, minor guardianships, custody, and a variety of other issues affecting the family unit. We serve the five-county Metro area, and also provide some state-wide assistance. The Kinship Care Unit staff currently consists of a managing attorney, four staff attorneys and one intake paralegal.

Responsibilities: The Staff Attorney handles a variety of issues related to stabilizing children in the home of kin (relative or non-relative, but not birth parents) including adoption, guardianship, custody, name change, birth certificate establishment and amendment, guardianship, dependency, domestication of foreign decrees, school enrollment and other education issues, social security, SSI, and other public benefit issues; using a variety of methods including advice and referral, brief service, transactional work, negotiation, mediation, and litigation in various courts throughout our five-county service area. In addition, the attorney provides community education and support to various client organizations, supports a learning environment for interns and externs; and may prepare and present professional education programs for staff, volunteer attorneys, and others as needed. The attorney, also participates in local bar and social service associations.

Qualifications: A Georgia bar license is required; relevant practice experience is preferred. Applicants must have excellent communication, listening, legal writing, and oral advocacy skills. The ability to work in a team and alone, adaptability, appreciation of diversity, and a strong work ethic are required. A demonstrated commitment to public service, participation in law school clinics, trial advocacy courses, familiarity with family and poverty law, and previous work with low-income people are preferred.

Salary and Benefits: The salary is $55,250+ depending on experience. Salaries currently increase annually based on a salary scale. We recently engaged a compensation consultant to review our current structure and make recommendations for improvement. The program provides generous fringe benefits, including 18 paid holidays (in 2024), 6 weeks paid time off, 6 weeks paid parental leave; health (including optional dental and vision coverage), life, and long and short-term disability insurance; partial payment for dependent health insurance; a salary reduction option for a flexible spending account; educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month; voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with 3% match; Georgia Bar dues; and CLE expenses. Legal Aid offers a hybrid work schedule that allows staff to work 2 days remotely subject to management approval and a probationary employment period. This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Application Requirements: Submit a letter of interest; resume; writing sample (advice letter, legal memorandum or brief) which demonstrates your ability to research and analyze legal issues; official law school transcript (a copy is acceptable pending your order of an official transcript); and the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of three professional references (preferably individuals who have supervised or managed your work) as one (1) PDF using our online application system at atlantalegalaid.org/jobs.

Your application will be acknowledged. No phone calls please. For assistance with technical difficulties in submitting your application, please email [email protected].

Legal Aid considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected status.