Staff Attorney, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Position Summary:

The Staff Attorney, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren provides direct legal services to and engages in education and advocacy on behalf of older adults throughout Pennsylvania seeking custody of minor children, often due to the unavailability of the natural parents and other legal issues affecting their lives, safety and security.

Founded in 1978, SeniorLAW Center is a dynamic nonprofit public interest legal services organization whose mission is to seek justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community, and advocating on local, state, and national levels. We are the only non-profit agency in Pennsylvania wholly dedicated to providing legal assistance to older persons and protecting their legal rights, and one of few in the nation. SeniorLAW Center prioritizes services to older people who are low-income, cultural, and racial minorities, the disabled, victims of crime and family violence, and those facing other vulnerabilities and challenges. We fight senior poverty, fraud, and homelessness, provide protection from elder abuse and financial exploitation, enable grandparents to raise grandchildren, and improve access to justice.

This is a full-time exempt hybrid position based in Philadelphia. Excellent benefits, including fully paid health and dental for employee, long- and short-term disability, 401k, flexible spending plan, and generous holidays and leave time, with a value of over $20,000. Salary range is commensurate with years of experience and SeniorLAW Center’s salary structure: starting salary $66,000. 

Project-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related

• Provide civil legal assistance to older adults with custody or dependency issues, including, but not limited to:
  • filing and/or representing in child custody petitions or and related litigation.
  • filing and/or representing in protection from abuse matters on behalf of the minor child(ren).
  • providing advice, brief services and referrals to older adults with child custody or dependency matters and related issues.
  • Providing information, support, and advocacy with related criminal proceedings that may impact civil litigation, collaborating with the police and District Attorneys, as necessary.
• Work with legal advocate to provide appropriate social service referrals and support to older adults who care for minor children.
• Assist with maintenance of resources and referral information for grandfamilies.
• Assist with GRG focused community clinics.
• Assist with GRG focused client council.
• Assist with pro bono recruitment, training, and other pro bono case processes, including, but not limited to: assisting with preparation of case files and advising pro bono volunteers as needed.
• Other project related duties as identified by Project Director and Project Supervising Attorney.

Systemic Advocacy

• Identify systemic problems affecting older Pennsylvanians related to grandfamilies and work with our local, statewide and national partners to develop creative solutions.
• Participate in quarterly Learning Community meetings with co-grantees under the William Penn Foundation grant, and participate in monthly check-ins with Generations United, technical assistance provider under William Penn Foundation grant.

Role-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related

• Handle all aspects of client representation, including, but not limited to:
  • screening and interviewing walk-in and/or emergency clients
  • conducting client interviews by telephone or in person to give legal opinion or recommend a case is accepted for further services
  • filing necessary court documents timely
  • analyzing facts to prepare appropriate case strategies
  • preparing for all court appearances
  • assessing holistic legal needs of clients and making referrals internally and externally
  • providing technical assistance to staff and volunteer attorneys
•  Handle case-related tasks including but not limited to:\
  •  retrieving, transcribing, and performing prescreen data entry in the case management system as needed

• • preparing and mailing retainers and letters
  • drafting court documents
  • communicating with clients or third parties via telephone, email, text message or other by other means
  • preparing case files for hearing/trial
  • maintaining case files and case management database
  • conducting home visits to frail or homebound clients
  • handling other case or client related tasks as necessary
• Utilize Language line or other interpretation services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) older adults.
• Provide information and referrals to older adults related to custodial issues, linking them to other resources and supportive services, including emergency financial assistance, support groups, health services and other resources.

Community Outreach and Education

•  Represent SeniorLAW Center at professional committees/coalitions related to grandparent custodial issues.
• Develop and present legal education workshops to older adults, caregivers, aging networks, the legal community, and medical professionals about grandparent custodial issues.
• Aid in the development of educational materials and resources for older adults on custodial issues and “best practices” resources for professionals.
• Aid in planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and tabling events.
• Assist with community clinics focused on adult guardianship issues.
• Coordinate with Project Director to update website, E-News, and other communication tools with project related information.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in scheduled project-related meetings.
• Participate in staff and Legal team meetings.
• Provide support to other colleagues agency-wide as needed.
• Assist with on-boarding staff as needed.
• Become knowledgeable of and follow all SeniorLAW Center’s personnel and legal policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate and model commitment to SeniorLAW Center’s mission and values.
• Assist with quality control and case management data collection and reporting as necessary.
• Participate in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy and events to support the organization.
• Other responsibilities to further mission of the project and organization.

Other Duties:

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor
• Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience working with older adults
• Experience representing in dependency and/or family court proceedings
  
• Second language proficiency preferred
  
• Courtroom experience
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors:

• Must be a motivated self-starter
• Must possess high-quality advocacy and negotiating skills
• Highly professional, organized, energetic, flexible, and culturally sensitive
• Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Interest and ability to work with older people and persons of different backgrounds
  

Work Conditions:

• This job operates in a professional office environment.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. 

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. 

SLC is an equal opportunity employer and values fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace in all aspects of our work. SeniorLAW Center prohibits discrimination based on age, race, national origin, color, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, sex, gender identity, familial status, or any other basis prohibited by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Position:   Staff Attorney, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Location:   Philadelphia, PA

Reports to:  Director, Guardianship, Grandfamilies and Victim Services

Project: Guardianship, Grandfamilies and Victim Services

Hours of Work 9 AM-5 PM

Work Setting: Hybrid, currently minimum 2 days per week in-office requirement; one day per week in the Philadelphia office. Subject to increase.

Classification: Exempt

Travel: As needed