Staff Attorney (Kinship)

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Job location
54 Ellis Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Atlanta Legal Aid
Street address: 
54 Ellis Street NE
City: 
Atlanta
State: 
Georgia
ZIP: 
30303
Job type: 
Legal - Civil
Position Description: 

Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks a Staff Attorney to work in its Kinship Care Unit located in its downtown Atlanta office. 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.

Requirements: 

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.

To apply: 

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. Only applications with all of the requested documents will be considered for an interview.

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Submission deadline: 
Tuesday, October 29, 2024