Special Legal Projects Counsel

Who We Are
Children’s Law Center is a mission-driven organization focused on providing high-quality legal services to children and families in DC. As an organization, we envision a world in which all children have a strong foundation of family, health and education and are free from poverty, trauma, racism and other forms of oppression. Our mission is to do this work together with DC children and families, Children’s Law Center uses the law to solve children’s urgent problems today, improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow and strengthen our community so that change endures. A key part of our mission is to challenge and reduce ways in which racism and other biases – structural and interpersonal – prevent each of us, our organization and the systems in which we work from providing children a strong foundation from which to thrive.

Our greatest assets are our people. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our ability to provide the best outcomes for our clients and our community. Staff members at Children’s Law Center advance the organization’s mission through their leadership, result-oriented mindset and commitment to cultural humility. We are looking for individuals who like to be challenged to grow both personally and professionally and value the opportunity to make a difference in their community. Children's Law Center's continued success depends on recruiting and retaining individuals who possess and exemplify these attributes.

Program Description
Special Legal Projects expands Children’s Law Center’s legal tools to include other forms of innovative healthy housing advocacy and collaborations, impact litigation and new approaches to working toward a future where every child can grow up with a strong foundation of family, health and education and live in a world free from poverty, trauma, racism and other forms of oppression.

Job Summary
The Special Legal Projects Counsel (SLPC) will develop and handle a caseload of impact litigation and systemic work in the areas of housing, education and/or disability law (depending on candidate hired and needs of the program). The SLPC will work with Children’s Law Center (CLC) program staff and community partners to identify matters that are ripe for litigation and other systemic advocacy. The SLPC will serve as counsel and co-counsel and develop and maintain an independent caseload of litigation cases in the areas of housing, education and/or disability law.

The SLPC is responsible for providing high-quality legal assistance to parents and caregivers with limited financial resources in a compassionate, culturally appropriate and trauma-informed manner. The SLPC is expected to handle all aspects of litigation, including investigation and case development, discovery, motions practice and trial as part of a team comprised of Children's Law Center staff and private bar co-counsel.

Role Responsibilities
Maintain a Caseload of Affirmative Litigation Matters

• Generate ideas for potential affirmative litigation by partnering with the CLC staff and external partners and by reviewing case data and information.
• Identify and develop matters appropriate for advocacy or litigation.
• Manage an active caseload and handle all aspects of litigation, including but not limited to: drafting and editing complaints, motions and briefs; taking depositions; arguing motions; selecting and preparing expert witnesses; negotiating possible resolutions; and participating in hearings and trials.
• Handle relevant proceedings in administrative law areas, including, but not limited to: matters before the Office of Dispute Resolution at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Office of Administrative Hearings, Office of Human Rights, Office of Civil Rights and other administrative forums.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal issues relevant to CLC practice areas and client community.

Collaborate and Provide Cross-Programmatic Support Within CLC

• Partner within CLC programs to collaborate on casework and developing systemic strategies and litigation.
• Work with program staff and CLC’s Evaluation and Learning team to evaluate trends in CLC individual cases and intakes to help determine impact litigation cases.

Build and Maintain External Partnerships

• Partner with other legal services and community-based organizations to identify and pursue litigation that advances CLC’s systemic priorities.
• Work in partnership/co-counsel with private law firms and non-profit allies.
• Develop non-litigation partnerships to move forward strategic goals within Special Legal Programs.

Mentoring and Supervision

• Mentor more junior CLC lawyers.
• Supervise fellows, law clerks, and interns as needed.

Participate in and Contribute to Learning, Systemic Advocacy and Coalition-Building Opportunities

• Attend and participate in program staff meetings, CLC attorney and staff meetings and other internal committees and working groups as requested by the Director of Special Legal Projects.
• Work with team to update and revise intakes and intake process as needed.
• Provide support to CLC’s Policy team in areas of expertise to address the systemic needs of the CLC’s client community.
• Participate in community partner coalitions or external committees as needed and requested by the Director of Special Legal Projects.

Organizational Competencies

• Cultural Humility – an openness to self-reflection and to understanding and respecting other cultural experiences and points of view and viewing individuals as experts in their own culture and experiences.
• Giving and Receiving Feedback – the ability to be self-reflective, give and receive appreciative, coaching, constructive, interpersonal and evaluative feedback.
• Conflict Management – a process which is designed to guide individuals and groups from the moment of conflict to the implementation of an identified solution. This process incorporates skills and techniques, including recognizing points of conflict, identifying the facts and feelings involved to get to the root of the issue, investigating equitable solutions, implementing and evaluating solutions, and supporting and guiding others throughout the process.

Salary and Benefits
The salary for this position ranges from $86,999-$100,856 annually based on relevant experience. Children’s Law Center offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance; employer-provided retirement contributions; flexible spending plans; and vacation, sick, holiday, family and medical leave. You can find more details about Children’s Law Center’s comprehensive benefits package at https://childrenslawcenter.org/get-involved/careers/employee-benefits/.

Candidates who indicate bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish will be asked to complete Spanish language testing. After hiring, full-time employees in this role who are proficient in Spanish are eligible for a $5,000 bonus.

Children’s Law Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. Employees with federal student loan debt can apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. For more information, go to https://myfedloan.org/borrowers/special-programs/pslf. Additionally, the DC Bar Foundation’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides renewable one-year, interest-free, forgivable loans up to $12,000 per year for qualified Children’s Law Center attorneys. For more information, see https:/dcbarfoundation.org/lrap/.

Hybrid Working Conditions
Children’s Law Center is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule. Employees are required to work in-person from Children’s Law Center’s office a minimum of two days per week. At least one of these days must be either Tuesday or Wednesday. The hybrid work schedule is subject to change based on organizational needs and/or best practices for health and safety. Hybrid work expectations may vary depending upon role responsibilities.

Work Authorization
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. Children’s Law Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Background Checks
Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

EEO
Children’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and existing employees. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our company and our career opportunities (https://childrenslawcenter.org/get-involved/careers/).

DEI Statement
Children’s Law Center is dedicated to building a world that is inclusive in approach and has equal opportunities and equitable outcomes for all. Our organization is committed to developing and supporting a robustly diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist community, where all members can create and feel a sense of belonging. Through our collective deliberate efforts, we work toward racial and social justice for children and families in DC.