ENTRY LEVEL ATTORNEY

Florida; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 69,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Florida Bar annual dues paid

Public Loan Forgiveness Program

No state income tax in Florida

Annual leave 176 hours

Sick leave 104 hours

Nine paid holidays

State Group Insurance options

Retirement plan options

Flexible Spending Accounts

Tuition waivers

Job summary

State of Florida — Children’s Legal Services (CLS) attorneys advocate for the safety, well-being, and permanency of Florida’s abused, abandoned, and neglected children. CLS leads in dependency advocacy with a team of over 300 attorneys.

A CLS attorney handles multiple cases, ensures Florida and federal requirements are met, and collaborates with investigators and case managers to secure safe, permanent homes for children.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for safety, well-being, and permanency of Florida’s dependent children.
• Collaborate with investigators and case managers to gather the evidence necessary to support the legal action appropriate for each child.
• Prepare witnesses to testify at trial and present pleadings and evidence effectively.
• Employ best practice litigation techniques to lead dependency advocacy.

Skills

Law Degree

Education

Law Degree

Job description

Children’s Legal Services attorneys advocate for the safety, well-being, and permanency of Florida’s abused, abandoned, and neglected children. With a team of more than 300 attorneys, CLS is the leader in the courtroom at each stage of a Chapter 39 proceeding.

A CLS attorney has primary responsibility for multiple cases and must ensure Florida and federal legal requirements are met to secure permanent and safe homes for dependent children. A CLS attorney collaborates with investigators and case managers to gather the evidence necessary to support the legal action that is appropriate for each child and prepares those partners to serve as witnesses at trial. CLS attorneys advocate for children by employing best practice litigation techniques so that our pleadings and trial presentations lead the nation in dependency advocacy.

Qualifications

• Law Degree

Training Provided

• Multi-week onboarding program created by a CLS-dedicated Statewide Training Team

Quarterly intensive multi-day New Attorney Training focusing on practical skills and litigation tactics

Annual multi-day Advanced Litigation Academy that coaches new and experienced attorneys on high-level evidence techniques, expert witness challenges, and advocacy through technology.

Fulfillment of all CLE requirements through webinars and live trainings on topics including case law updates, statutory changes, courtroom skills, evidence, ethics, and legal writing.

Benefits for Working for the State of Florida

• Florida Bar annual dues are paid for by the Department, contingent upon agency approval
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• No state income tax for residents of Florida
• On each anniversary date, you will be accredited 176 hours of annual leave and 104 hours of sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options (health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options)
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers
• And more!

Compensation

For a full-time permanent appointment, the annual base salary is $69,240.08 and total compensation inclusive of the benefits listed above is valued at a minimum of $97,679. Actual total compensation will vary based on insurance and retirement elections.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Location

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, US, 33401

Nearest Major Market: Palm Beach

Nearest Secondary Market: Miami

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.