Staff Attorney – Child Assistance; CINA

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change. Since 1911, Maryland Legal Aid has provided high-quality legal aid to vulnerable, low-income people and communities — helping to remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges, achieve stability and independence, and reach their goals.

MLA also identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. MLA’s core work includes eviction and foreclosure prevention, family law, children’s rights, consumer protection, securing public benefits, and access to healthcare. MLA advocates operate primarily through the courts, via individual representation of indigent clients, but also engage in impact litigation, public communication and outreach, and policy advocacy. Through this holistic approach, Maryland Legal Aid serves to amplify the voices of tens of thousands of economically disadvantaged and vulnerable Marylanders each year and seeks to be a leader in the legal services field nationwide.

MLA announces one full-time staff attorney position in the Baltimore City office to focus on Child In Need of Assistance (CINA) child welfare cases, and the responsibilities include providing competent legal representation in child welfare proceedings before the juvenile and appellate courts, as well as all other ancillary proceedings such as FIMS, TPR mediations, IEP meetings. The responsibilities include representing clients in general practice cases related to legal advocacy, ranging from intake to representation of clients before administrative tribunals, District, Circuit, appellate, and federal courts, and all relevant agencies.

Staff Attorneys are expected to participate in outreach activities and clinics as directed. Participation in Legal Aid Task Forces and other internal/external committees is also required.

• Screen clients for eligibility and make referrals as appropriate.
• Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients.
• Conduct factual investigation and analysis as well as legal research.
• Advise clients of the results of investigation and research and counsel clients regarding their options.
• Draft pleadings to include complaints, answers, and counter-complaints, etc.
• Draft memoranda of law, briefs, etc.
• Develop case theory and strategy for the representation of clients.
• Prepare cases and represent clients during negotiations, hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Work with various community groups and accept speaking engagements as assigned by the supervisor.
• Continue professional development and education by attending Legal Aid-sponsored training and other programs.
• Maintain case records for clients in the Legal Server case management system.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.

• Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland, or admitted in another jurisdiction, or graduate of an ABA-approved law school and eligible for admission in the State of Maryland. Out-of- state attorneys must be able and available to take the next scheduled bar exam following the date of employment.
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Knowledge of principles of civil law, judicial procedures, and rules of evidence.
• Ability to use a computer, web-based applications, and computer programs such as Office 365, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent research, critical thinking, writing, and communication skills.
• Self-starter who can juggle multiple priorities and meet regular deadlines in a fast-paced environment while balancing a full workload.
• Ability to provide quality legal advocacy and representation for low-income, diverse client base.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally in Maryland as needed.
• Knowledge of Westlaw Edge or other legal research software is a plus.
• Spanish language proficiency desirable.

Work duties are typically performed in a general office setting, with regular interaction via telephone, video conference, instant messaging, and email,…