Adoptions Legal Assistant

Overview

The Alliance for Children’s Rights is seeking a dedicated individual to join our Adoption Program as a Legal Assistant Thisis a non-exempt, full-time paid position.

The Alliance for Children’s Rights is a nonprofit organization that provides free, holistic, legal services and advocacy to youth and families impacted by child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Los Angeles County. Our lawyers, advocates, and social workers, together with hundreds of pro bono attorneys and community volunteers, work to ensure young people in foster care and guardian ships can overcome barriers to stability and success and access to the education, healthcare, and financial supports they need.

Since 1992, we have helped over 170,000 children and young adults. For more information visit:(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

To advance our mission of stability, equity, and justice for young people across the state, the Alliance also identifies systemic issues and barriers that impact our clients, and advocates for broad solutions and improvements through ground-breaking child welfare policy reform at the state and local levels.

The Adoption Program provides legal advocacy to finalize adoptions for children and non-minor dependents in the foster care and probation systems. The program works in partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services, the Children’s Court, and the Children’s Law Center to complete foster care adoptions. As part of our adoption services, we also provide holistic assessments to ensure the children and families obtain the appropriate therapeutic services and monetary benefits to support the health, education and wellbeing of the child and the stability of the adoption.

The Adoption Program also educates adoptive families about foster care adoption and their legal benefits and advocates to resolve administrative and systemic barriers to the finalization of adoptions.

The legal assistant will support the program director and staff attorney with processing all aspects of the adoption cases from intake to finalization. The applicant must have the ability to handle a high volume of calls and interviews with clients and case load and data entry, work independently and handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, as well as be willing to become part of a small cohesive team working on behalf of vulnerable children throughout Los Angeles County.

The incumbent will work with, and under the direct supervision of the Adoption Program Director to provide the following:

• Support program director by completing data entry for adoption case referrals and client case intake, conducting detailed client intake interviews, participating in adoption program’s case review and staff meetings, preparing adoption case summaries, communicating with clients regarding status of their case, and regular updating of client records in our electronic database.
• Work with program director to open, maintain and close adoption electronic and physical case files.
• Participate in cross-programs advocacy with our Benefits, Education and Health Care Programs to facilitate a holistic approach to serving clients, including participation in crossover case review team meetings and preparation of inter-program transfers of cases.
• Support program director with communications and follow-up with clients, program staff, pro bono attorneys, DCFS social workers, Children’s Law Center attorneys, and service providers on case issues or status in connection with our completion of adoption cases.
• Support program director with preparing legal forms and related program materials, and supervising student interns or volunteers assisting with completing adoptive parent questionnaires, as needed.
• Participate in adoption program trainings and community outreach.
• Complete administrative duties, including copying, data entry, weekly in-office mail sorting, and filing.
• Provide program staff support and other agency staff support as needed, including attending and supporting Adoption Days at Children’s Court.

• Must possess one of the…