Description
PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY POSITION
About Defenders of Children:
Founded in 2007, Defenders of Children is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm that provides free, expert, comprehensive, trauma-informed, healing-focused, and dignity-affirming legal services to vulnerable children and families throughout Arizona, with an emphasis on protecting and promoting the legal rights and physical, emotional, and economic safety and recovery of victims of child abuse and neglect and their protective parents and guardians.
In addition to representing clients in federal, state, local, and Tribal court, Defenders of Children partners with family advocacy centers, domestic violence shelters, residential treatment centers, immigrant and refugee organizations, other community-based nonprofits, and federal, state, local, and Tribal government agencies that share our concern for the welfare of children and our goal to promote healthy families. Through administrative agency advocacy, impact litigation, and trainings for non-lawyer staff at victim advocacy organizations across the state, we work to expand access to justice for children and families in all 15 Arizona counties, including, especially, those from underserved and underrepresented regions and populations.
About the Position:
Defenders of Children is seeking multiple full-time Staff Attorneys to join our growing litigation team. The Staff Attorneys’ main focus will be the direct representation of clients in child custody matters in family court. However, the Staff Attorneys will also have the opportunity to work in other areas of the law that commonly impact our clients, including juvenile, civil rights, education, and housing law, as well as in criminal cases as victim’s counsel.
As the vast majority of our clients are low-income survivors of family violence, the Staff Attorneys will be expected to provide patient, compassionate, and trauma-informed representation and advocacy and must be comfortable working with clients who may be facing such challenges as poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, mental illness, and substance abuse. Defenders of Children provides ongoing training to ensure that all members of our team, lawyers and non- lawyers alike, are best positioned to address our diverse clients’ needs.
Required Skills:
- Either (1) Active license to practice law in Arizona; or (2) If not licensed in Arizona, must commit to applying to waive into practice in Arizona after two years of bar licensure in any jurisdiction, under Rule 38(d), Ariz. R. Sup. Ct.
- At least two years of experience practicing family law in Arizona (Applicants who lack the requisite family law experience will be strongly considered if they can demonstrate a commitment to public interest legal work, especially in the areas of domestic violence or victims’ rights)
- Desire to practice law in the public interest
- Demonstrated commitment to working with marginalized populations
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to independently conduct legal research, draft substantive legal pleadings, and represent clients in court
- Willingness to travel throughout Arizona when necessary to appear in person at trials and other court proceedings outside Maricopa County
Job Expectations:
Defenders of Children offers a wide range of legal and supportive services to our clients depending on their circumstances. Approximately 75% of the Staff Attorneys’ time will involve advising, representing, and advocating for clients in child custody matters. The remainder of the Staff Attorneys’ role will consist of a combination of the following:
- Providing brief services and other non-appearance assistance in a range of civil legal matters
- Responding to general legal inquiries from community partners and lay legal advocates
- Facilitating trainings and community information sessions about family law, orders of protection, and other relevant areas of interest
Defenders of Children does not have a billable hours requirement. In addition, due to the difficult nature of the work we perform, all staff, both lawyers and non-lawyers, are strongly encouraged to set and maintain boundaries to ensure a healthy work-life balance. However, the Staff Attorneys will be required to contemporaneously log their time and will be expected to work a full forty hours every week.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience conducting trials in high-conflict custody cases
- Experience and/or interest in representing low-income and other vulnerable clients, including survivors of domestic violence
- Fluency in Spanish
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Reimbursement for bar dues
- Accrued paid time off
- 12 paid holidays Paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s, as well as for voting, bereavement, and jury duty
- 8 weeks’ family medical and parental leave (unpaid, but with continued insurance coverage)
- Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
- Collaborative and collegial work environment
Annual Starting Salary:
$100,000+, depending on experience
Application Process:
- Please send your resume, letter of interest, legal writing sample, and list of three references to [email protected]. All applications will be held in strict confidence, and will be considered on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Expected start date is October 1, 2025.
Equal Opportunity Policy:
- Defenders of Children is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
