Senior Attorney

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned and neglected children in Florida’s dependency court proceedings. The Office upholds the highest standards of integrity, excellence and child-centered representation. Guardian ad Litem Attorneys are assigned by the Office to represent children as part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes a child welfare professional and hopefully a community volunteer or pro bono attorney.

What You Will Do

The work involves contact with people in stressful situations, and the incumbent must exercise discretion in dealing with confidential and extremely sensitive issues before the court. The incumbent reviews case files to identify legal issues, conducts an independent investigation of the facts of the case, researches and develops legal strategies for the cases, files pleadings and motions, and attends court proceedings including, but not limited to, hearings, depositions, and mediations.

Why It Might Be a Fit

The incumbent represents, advocates, and negotiates for the assigned children inside and outside the courtroom. Senior Attorneys assist other Guardian ad Litem Attorneys in developing and implementing case strategies.

Requirements

• Possession of legal skills and knowledge sufficient to represent the children appointed to the Office as evidenced by admission to The Florida Bar.
• Ability to advocate effectively in court on behalf of the child.
• Knowledge of juvenile law, including relevant rules of procedure and evidence, and guardian ad litem legal representation for children.
• Ability to communicate effectively and deal tactfully with individuals involved in litigation and stressful situations.
• Ability to work with individuals from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to utilize a personal computer, including software programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Graduation from an accredited law school, membership in the Florida Bar and two years of experience in the practice of dependency or related law.

Benefits

• State of Florida Retirement package – Pension or investment plan (3% employee contribution required)
• 9 paid state holidays
• 1 paid personal holiday
• 13 paid sick leave days
• 176 annual leave hours
• Life insurance $25,000 is provided by the state at no cost to you for all FTE positions.
• Additional supplemental insurances are available such as dental, vision, disability, etc.
• Florida Bar annual dues are paid for by the Agency, contingent upon agency approval
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida
• No mandatory night/weekend/holiday scheduled shifts
• State Tuition Waiver Program
• Introductory training on guardianship practice, dependency law and practice fundamentals as well as best practice guidance for attorneys communicating with and representing children.
• Ongoing live in-person trainings and webinars on case law, evidence, legal writing, trial skills, and ethics which fulfills CLE requirements.
• Annual advanced litigation skills training.
• Online training academy with a catalog of introductory and advanced courses on topics to include dependency law, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, psychotropic medications, independent living, developmental disabilities, trauma, human trafficking, educational advocacy, and more.
• Lexis Nexis legal research search engine access.