Overview
The Youth Empowerment and Trial Strategies Attorney will advance children’s rights and promote equity and justice for children and youth across all case types handled by the Office of the Child’s Representative (OCR). This role ensures excellence in legal representation and engages in policy advocacy at both state and local levels. The attorney will serve as a liaison to select judicial districts and act as a statewide resource to attorneys on key legal and practice issues. Responsibilities include developing strategies, training, and resources to support attorneys in providing high-quality legal representation for children and youth.
This position is exempt from overtime under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and serves at the pleasure of the Executive Director of the Office of the Child’s Representative. All prospective employees are subject to background investigation prior to hiring.
Responsibilities
- Serve as primary point of contact for OCR attorneys on legal and practice issues.
- Act as liaison to court personnel and other professionals in select judicial districts.
- Investigate complaints and assess sufficiency of attorney pools.
- Identify performance concerns and training needs; monitor compliance with attorney performance standards, case filings, and billing.
- Develop and implement youth engagement and empowerment protocols and initiatives.
- Monitor state and federal trends related to youth participation and rights.
- Serve as content lead for OCR’s youth center, maintaining up-to-date materials.
- Engage stakeholders to promote youth participation and voice.
- Recommend changes to current practices regarding youth engagement and rights.
- Develop and advance legal strategies to protect children’s and youth’s interests at the trial level.
- Monitor case law, legislation, and rules relevant to advocacy.
- Track rulemaking activities related to trial-level advocacy and update staff accordingly.
- Lead trial skills training development and delivery for attorneys.
- Coordinate OCR’s Second Chair program and other litigation supports.
- Manage OCR’s Litigation Toolkit, ensuring accuracy and accessibility.
- Collaborate with legal staff to update and create litigation materials.
- Serve as lead staff attorney supporting access to legal advocacy for youth eligible for Colorado’s Foster Youth in Transition Program (FYTP).
- Provide resources, training, litigation support, and advocacy related to FYTP.
- Produce legal writing, fact sheets, and training materials focused on litigation skills and youth rights.
- Represent OCR on state, national, and other committees to advance policy and program goals.
- Support OCR contract attorneys and staff collaboratively in all mission aspects.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Licensed attorney in the state of Colorado with an active license in good standing.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably with juvenile justice systems and/or as a guardian ad litem (GAL).
- Strong legal knowledge and advocacy skills.
- Excellent organization and project management abilities.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Exceptional leadership qualities.
- Ability to work independently in a decentralized environment.
- Passion for advancing justice for youth.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience representing children and youth as a GAL, child’s legal representative (CLR), or similar role.
- Strong trial skills and experience.
Work Environment
- Position begins 100% remote with an eventual transition to a hybrid work model.
- Preference given to applicants residing in the Denver metro area.
- Applicants outside the Denver metro area must reside in Colorado and be able to perform job responsibilities remotely while attending in-person meetings and events as required.
- Reasonable accommodations available for individuals with disabilities.
- Position may involve urgent situations and frequent interruptions.
Other Duties and Travel
- May be assigned special projects or duties outside the primary scope.
- Travel within Colorado, including outside the Front Range, may be required for meetings and conferences.
- Estimated travel time outside the Front Range is less than 15%.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:
- Cover letter
- Resume (with optional redaction of age, date of birth, or educational dates per applicable law)
- Minimum of three professional references
- Writing sample demonstrating trial-level advocacy for children and youth
- Separate document responding to:
- Description of trial skills and experience relevant to this position
- Identification of two most pressing issues impacting children and youth in OCR’s cases
Applications must be complete, legible, and submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word format by the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The organization is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter how their unique background or experiences contribute to diversity and cultural vitality in legal representation for children and youth.