Education Staff Attorney

Alliance for Children's Rights; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

FSA

Vacation time

401(k) plan

ClassPass

Job summary

Alliance for Children’s Rights seeks a Staff Attorney to join our Education Program in Los Angeles. Under the supervision of the Education Program Directors, you will advocate for children, youth, and families to secure early intervention, special education, and education stability services.

You will represent children and families in IFSP and IEP meetings, assess records, prepare complaints, train pro bono staff, and develop trainings to reduce inequities in education access.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.

Responsibilities

• Represent children and families in IFSP and IEP meetings, informal dispute resolution, mediations, compliance matters, and related advocacy.
• Assess education records, identify legal and service gaps, develop advocacy strategies, and support clients in pursuing their education goals.
• Prepare complaints and other advocacy materials for school districts, regional centers, the California Department of Education, and related entities.
• Train and supervise pro bono attorneys, interns, externs, and law clerks.
• Develop and deliver practical trainings and tools for families, youth, CASAs, social workers, probation officers, educators, and community partners.
• Collaborate with the Education team to identify and address systemic inequities affecting clients and internal practices.
• Participate in policy and systems advocacy, coalition work, and community outreach related to education access and equity.
• Maintain accurate, timely case records and support effective program operations and case review.

Skills

Written and oral communication

Active listening

Presentation

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Independent work

Adaptability

Experience with families/children

Bilingual Spanish

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

California State Bar active

Job description

The Alliance for Children’s Rights is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our Education Program. Under the supervision of the Education Program Directors, this attorney will advocate on behalf of children, youth, and families to secure early intervention, special education, and education stability services. Bilingual Spanish skills are highly preferred.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance for Children’s Rights provides free, holistic legal services and advocacy to youth and families impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Los Angeles County. Our attorneys, advocates, social workers, pro bono partners, and community volunteers help young people overcome barriers to stability and opportunity and access the education, health care, financial supports, and permanent family connections they need. Since 1992, the Alliance has helped more than 178,000 children and young adults.

We pair direct services with local and statewide policy advocacy to remove systemic barriers and advance stability, equity, and justice for young people. Our collaborative, family-friendly culture recognizes that lasting impact depends on employees who are supported, connected, and able to thrive.

THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE

You will help young people facing systemic barriers obtain the services and protections they need to learn and thrive. The Education Program combines client-centered representation, community education, pro bono engagement, and systems advocacy, grounded in clients’ goals and an intersectional commitment to education equity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Represent children and families in IFSP and IEP meetings, informal dispute resolution, mediations, compliance matters, and related advocacy.
• Assess education records, identify legal and service gaps, develop advocacy strategies, and support clients in pursuing their education goals.
• Prepare complaints and other advocacy materials for school districts, regional centers, the California Department of Education, and related entities.
• Train and supervise pro bono attorneys, interns, externs, and law clerks.
• Develop and deliver practical trainings and tools for families, youth, CASAs, social workers, probation officers, educators, and community partners.
• Collaborate with the Education team to identify and address systemic inequities affecting clients and internal practices.
• Participate in policy and systems advocacy, coalition work, and community outreach related to education access and equity.
• Maintain accurate, timely case records and support effective program operations and case review.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor degree and active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
• Zero to two years of legal experience for Level I consideration; two to four years for Level II consideration.
• Personal, educational, or professional experience in early intervention, special education, child welfare, juvenile justice, education systems, or work with diverse communities is valued.
• Excellent written and oral communication, active listening, presentation, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and adapt in a collaborative environment.
• Experience building trust and working effectively with families, children, and young adults.
• Familiarity with legal procedures, courts, early education, education, juvenile dependency, or delinquency is helpful.
• Commitment to social justice, education equity, and client-centered advocacy. Bilingual Spanish skills are highly preferred.

Target starting salary: $79,000 to $85,000 for Level I Attorneys with 0 to 2 years of relevant legal experience, or $85,000 to $92,000 for Level II Attorneys with 2 to 4 years of relevant legal experience. Final starting salary is based on relevant experience and internal equity. Qualified Spanish-speaking employees who pass the Alliance language assessment receive a $167 monthly bilingual pay differential.

The Alliance invests in employees’ physical and mental well-being. Our benefits and workplace practices are designed to provide broad care options, meaningful time away from work, and flexibility for employees and their families. Benefits currently include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the employee-only premium paid by the Alliance
• Life insurance and flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Generous vacation time and paid holidays
• A 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment, independent of employee contributions
• ClassPass, which provides access to exercise classes and a broad range of wellness services, including massages and facials
• A flexible, family-friendly culture that supports employees in balancing meaningful work with responsibilities outside of work

HOW AND WHERE YOU WILL WORK

This Los Angeles-based role offers regular flexibility in how and where work is performed. Employees may work from home or from the Alliance office on a regular basis, based on the responsibilities of the position and program needs. In-person participation is expected when it best supports clients, colleagues, court appearances, trainings, community partnerships, or Alliance events. Candidates must reside in the greater Los Angeles area. The Alliance may adjust remote and in-office expectations as organizational or program needs evolve.

OUR COMMITMENT TO AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE

The Alliance for Children’s Rights is committed to building and supporting an inclusive environment that values the backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences of our staff. We welcome candidates whose experiences connect with our mission and the communities we serve. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and are an equal employment opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination based on any characteristic protected by applicable law.

The Alliance considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act. Applicants are not required to disclose criminal history or complete a background check before a conditional offer of employment. If a post-offer background check raises a concern about a conviction directly related to the position, the applicant will have an opportunity to provide context, mitigating information, or challenge the accuracy of the report.

This job description provides a general overview and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of the position.