Children's Defense Team Supervising Attorney

The Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (LCCR) is looking for a skilled supervising attorney to lead its Children’s Defense Team (CDT), which provides holistic legal representation for children in delinquency and status offender proceedings as the youth public defender in New Orleans. The CDT Supervising Attorney works to ensure that LCCR’s attorneys are well-trained and supported to provide high-quality, zealous, client-centered legal representation for every eligible youth in Orleans Parish Juvenile Court.

The position is based in New Orleans.

The Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (LCCR) is a non-profit law office that fights to keep children out of the legal system so they can thrive in their homes and communities. We both represent individual children in their court cases and address the systemic issues that trap mainly poor, Black youth in the legal system.

Youth Defense:
As the youth public defender in New Orleans, our Children’s Defense Team represents over 90% of children in the city who come into contact with the juvenile legal system. We provide each child with a holistic team – a lawyer, social worker, investigator, and youth advocate – to address both the causes and consequences of an arrest. In East Baton Rouge Parish, we partner with the public defender by providing social workers, youth advocates, and an investigator to complete their holistic defense team.

State and Local Advocacy:
We advocate for policies that reduce the number of children in the legal system and provide better alternatives to arrest and incarceration. For the kids who do enter the system, we support policies that help keep them safe, protect their rights, and get them home as soon as possible.

The CDT Supervising Attorney will provide high-quality supervision, coaching, and professional development of the staff attorneys representing young people in Orleans Parish Juvenile Court.

Specifically, the Supervising Attorney:

• Supervises staff attorneys and legal fellows;
• Provides high-level coaching in a second-chair role to attorneys;
• Monitors performance goals and provides guidance to help attorneys achieve those goals;
• Regularly observes and reviews performance and written work product; and providing fair, constructive, and timely feedback;
• Develops written professional development plans for supervises where necessary;
• Develops and schedules attorney trainings;
• Develops and implement litigation strategies;
• Coordinates regularly with the Client Services Unit and facilitates effective team communication as appropriate;
• Coordinates and communicates with court staff;
• Coordinates and leads monthly attorney meetings, and quarterly attorney skills trainings;
• Facilitates the hiring and onboarding of law clerks and interns.

The CDT Supervising Attorney must have and maintain an active bar license with good standing to practice law in Louisiana and be deeply committed to the defense of youth as a specialized practice. Excellent interpersonal communication skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations are required. The Supervising Attorney should have at least five years of previous criminal defense experience, ideally with a focus on youth defense and knowledge of substantive and procedural juvenile and criminal law, as well as trial practice skills.

Ideal candidates will also have at least three years of experience supervising other attorneys and leading and coordinating versatile teams.

The salary range is $74,000 to $90,000 and is based on an established salary scale. The Supervising Attorney also receives a supervision stipend as determined by the Executive Director and based on an established range. LCCR offers employee benefits that include unlimited flexible paid time off, 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, paid parental leave, paid mental health days, an annual mental health stipend, and the option to contribute to an employer matched retirement plan.

The position is full-time and in-person, although remote work is possible depending on court appearances and required supervision expectations. No other compensated work is permitted.

Please provide a resume
, three professional references
, a writing sample
, and a cover letter explaining how your personal and professional experience intersects with Black youth impacted by incarceration to jobs
. In the subject line of the email,
please write “CDT Supervising Attorney.”

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
This position will start March 30, 2026.

LCCR values diversity and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. People of color, women, LGBTQ persons, people with disabilities, and those directly impacted by the justice system are encouraged to apply for all positions.