Director of Legal Services

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Job Summary:

To direct a range of legal support services to assist the Enhanced Family Foster Care program in achieving their permanency goals by overseeing:

• Review Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) referrals for legal sufficiency. Assess the case record and confer with case planning teams to ensure that there is a cause of action to support filing a TPR.
• Review and approve TPR packages, ensure that service upon the respondents is effectuated, and attend court hearings as necessary to complete the TPR.
• Oversee diligent searches for participants as needed.
• Gather evidence, provide discovery to opposing counsel, and submit all exhibits via EDDS.
• Prepare witnesses for trial
• Draft freeing orders and submit to court within two weeks of a court’s decision.
• Respond to or file Orders to Show Cause and other motions as necessary.
• Prepare and oversee execution of surrenders.
• Provide affirmations of status of appeal to the Director of the Permanency Team.

• Work closely with Senior Vice President and Senior Program Director to expedite adoption and KinGAP finalizations.
• Provide monthly updates to Adoption and KinGAP Coordinator to track the status of EFFC youth with goals of adoption or KinGAP.
• Consult with Adoption attorneys, as appropriate, regarding barriers related to adoptions and KinGAPs.

• Supervise EFFC Legal Assistant.
• Communicate with FCLS attorneys, child's attorneys, and birth parent attorneys to facilitate permanency.
• Review Permanency Hearing Reports, offer feedback to the teams on legal matters and attend permanency hearings and other hearings on neglect/PINS/destitute children dockets as necessary.
• Review and ensure compliance with subpoenas. Forward redacted records to appropriate parties.
• Provide periodic legal trainings as necessary.
• Research any legal issues as needed.
• Represent the agency as necessary at outside meetings with our funders or others.
• Attend Directors/Leadership and other administrative meetings, as necessary.
• Participate in a variety of inter and intra agency meetings, committees and task forces as assigned.
• Attend Trauma-Informed Practice meetings and lead the implementation of Trauma
• Informed Practice within the department/program.
• Encourage and advance the use of the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment.
• Plans accordingly to minimize risk and impact on programs, participants and the agency
• Responds appropriately to specific incidents and incident trends, and implements corrective action or programmatic change as needed
• Periodically reviews policies and procedures to ensure best practices and necessary changes are made in a timely fashion
• Communicates effectively to appropriate levels of accountability
• Ensures staff participate in regulatory/compliance training prior to due dates to reduce program liabilities and risk
• Ensures all staff are notified of all policies, liabilities and compliance requirements when onboarded and regularly when changes are introduced

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree; admitted to the New York State Bar and member in good standing.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience practicing in New York State Family Court.
• Litigation experience representing or supporting children, youth, and/or families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to working from a strengths-based, youth development, and trauma-informed perspective, consistent with the agency’s mission and values.