Assistant County Attorney, Child Welfare/Protective Issues

Westchester County; City of White Plains (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid leave

Deferred compensation

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement plan

Job summary

Westchester County is seeking an Assistant County Attorney for the Family Court Bureau to support child welfare litigation. The role involves daily court appearances, drafting legal documents, and advising on permanency and wellbeing of children.

The successful candidate will have a JD and NYS Bar admission, with a preference for Family Court experience and strong collaboration with County Attorney staff and county agencies.

Qualifications

• Must have JD from an accredited law school and NYS Bar admission.
• Family Court experience preferred but not required.
• Ability to collaborate with County Attorney staff and court personnel in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Department of Social Services in Family Court proceedings, from petition filing through trials and permanency hearings.
• Interview witnesses and determine admissibility of evidence.
• Draft pleadings, motions, and memoranda; meet with caseworkers to analyze issues.
• Handle a full caseload including discovery, pre-trial hearings, and courtroom advocacy.
• Prepare and maintain case files; conduct legal research and advise on permanency and wellbeing of children.
• Prepare and present trainings within the Bureau and to partner agencies.
• Attend inter-agency and county meetings as required.

Skills

Litigation

Legal Research

Court Appearances

Drafting Pleadings

Policy Knowledge

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

New York State Bar admission

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis

Job description

Are you a recent law school graduate who wants to gain valuable trial and courtroom experience?

Are you an experienced attorney who wants to protect the well-being of Westchester’s children?

Then the Westchester County Family Court Bureau is the place for you!

Join a diverse organization with multiple opportunities for professional growth while being in service to the success of Westchester County’s children, youth and families. Our work is rewarding, challenging and important. By joining our team, you're helping to create real, positive changes for many people and communities. Working as an Assistant County Attorney is a great opportunity for recent law school graduates and seasoned lawyers to work in the area of child welfare and gain significant and rapid litigation experience, appearing in court every day. You will build confidence in writing, presentation and time management while building daily relationships with judges and attorneys for parents and children.

Responsibilities

• Representing the Department of Social Services in Family Court on all aspects of child protective proceedings, from petition filing through contested trials and permanency hearings;
• Interviewing witnesses and other relevant parties to the litigation to determine admissibility of various types of evidence;
• Drafting legal documents, including pleadings, motions and memoranda of law; Meeting with caseworkers to identify and analyze legal issues;
• Handling a full caseload; case investigations, motion practice, discovery and courtroom advocacy including pre-trial hearings, trials and dispositional hearings;
• Preparing and maintaining case files and documents in advance of court appearances; Conducting legal research and regularly reviewing relevant case laws and regulations and providing advice to the Department of Social Services on issues relating to permanency and well-being of children in foster care;
• Preparing and presenting trainings both within the Family Court Bureau and to other agencies and stakeholders;
• May be required to attend various inter-agency and county meetings.

Required Qualifications

The successful candidate must have graduated from a school of law with a JD degree and be admitted to the New York State Bar or pending admission. Experience in the Family Court is preferred but not required. Must be able to work collaboratively with County Attorney staff, other attorneys, court staff and other County agencies in a fast paced and demanding environment.

Besides a competitive salary, our generous compensation package includes comprehensive benefits (including medical, dental, and vision), paid leave (including holidays, vacation and personal days), deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement and a retirement plan.

Westchester County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

About Westchester County

Westchester County, located in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, covers 500 square miles and has a population of just over 1 million. Originally home to Native Americans of the Lenape tribe, it is now a rich mix of diverse cultures and landscapes. The County is a blend of bustling cities, quaint villages, and picturesque towns, as well as open spaces and a network of beautiful parks. Westchester is made up of six cities, 19 towns, and 20 villages. The County is known for its top-notch public schools and high quality of life. It is also an intellectual capital, boasting a highly educated workforce, competitive colleges and universities, Fortune 500 companies, world-changing nonprofits, and cutting-edge research centers. Westchester is led by County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins, who took office in January 2025 as the tenth County Executive. Focusing on innovation, Jenkins is leveraging technology and fostering business growth to position Westchester as a dynamic and inclusive destination where everyone can thrive. Learn more about Westchester County by visiting www.westchestergov.com