Family Representation Unit Staff Attorney

Family Representation Unit Staff Attorney

JOB TITLE
:
Family Representation Unit Staff Attorney – Full-time

LOCATION
:
Sussex County Office (Georgetown, DE)

SALARY
:
Commensurate with experience and CLASI’s collective bargaining agreement; excellent benefits. (Details on salary scale and benefits package can be found here .)

DATE OF POSTING
:
February 18, 2026

CONTEXT OF POSITION
:
The Family Representation Unit Staff Attorney will help launch a parent representation program at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI). The Family Representation Unit aims to ensure a fair and equitable child welfare system in Delaware by leading, administering, and supporting the effective delivery of multidisciplinary counsel/representation and services to indigent parents facing child welfare intervention in the parent-child relationship, including dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights matters.

Through zealous, creative, and persistent advocacy the Unit will protect, advocate for, and advance the rights of parents facing the removal of their children by the Division of Family Services. The Staff Attorney will handle a caseload of 60-80 active open cases representing parents facing state intervention, including termination of parental rights. Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney and Supervising Attorney, the Staff Attorney will assist clients throughout the state of Delaware (but with a focus in Sussex County) and collaborate with the Social Work Supervisor, social workers, peer mentors, and engage in systemic advocacy.

The Staff Attorney will report to the Supervising Attorney and Managing Attorney for the Family Representation Unit. The Staff Attorney will be a member of the CLASI Union bargaining unit.

• Handle a full caseload, 60-80 cases, of dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights cases.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team involving the Social Work Supervisor, social workers, parent peer advocates, and other team members.
• Develop legal strategies to best serve clients.
• Provide direct representation in impact matters and co-counseling support to other attorneys as appropriate, with the understanding that a large portion of this position will be devoted to day-to-day representation of parents in child dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights matters.
• Represent CLASI on boards, councils, and committees with overlapping constituents and advocacy interests to the extent compatible with the efforts and goals of the Family Representation Unit.
• Engage in systemic advocacy including affirmative litigation as appropriate, legislative and administrative advocacy, with the understanding that a large portion of this position will be devoted to day-to-day representation of parents in child dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights matters.
• Create and present effective public trainings on topics relevant to parent representation, including presentations to peer advocates, social workers, and impacted parents/potential clients.
• Remote work will be permitted as the attorney’s in-person litigation, preparation, supervision, and schedule allow.
• Fulfill any other reasonably related program duties.

The following qualifications are required:

• A demonstrated commitment to parents’ rights, indigent defense, and social justice issues.
• Experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals and families experiencing state intervention in their lives and a willingness to challenge the state when it exists.
• Experience and/or ability to provide representation with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental, and holistic advocacy throughout the case.
• Delaware Bar admission or eligible for Rule 55.
• Strong interest in Family Court litigation and commitment to parents’ rights required.
• Experience with or demonstrated interest in vulnerable populations required.
• Ability to effectively communicate in a second language, preferably Spanish or Haitian Creole, strongly preferred.
• Must be able and willing to travel across counties as needed and be prepared to handle cases in person in the Family Courts multiple times per week.

CLASI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we comply with all laws governing fair hiring practices. We welcome applications from interested candidates of all backgrounds. For this position, we strongly encourage candidates with experience in criminal defense, child welfare/family regulation, public interest advocacy, and social work to apply.

TO APPLY
:
Please email your cover letter and resume to Megan Mahle, Esq. at mmahle.