Overview
The Office of the Child’s Representative (OCR) is an independent agency within the State of Colorado Judicial Branch. OCR supports and oversees attorney guardians ad litem (GAL), child's legal representatives (CLR), and counsel for youth throughout Colorado. The office contracts with approximately 275 attorneys and employs 12 attorneys and five case consultants in its Colorado Springs office. OCR is responsible for payment and oversight of attorney services in 12 case types, including dependency and neglect, delinquency and direct file, domestic relations, probate, paternity, and truancy.
Position Summary
The Youth Empowerment and Trial Strategies Attorney will advance children’s rights and promote equity and justice for children and youth across all OCR case types. This role involves ensuring excellence in legal representation and engaging 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 OCR 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 contract attorneys on legal and practice issues.
- Liaise with court personnel and other professionals in assigned judicial districts.
- Investigate complaints and assess the sufficiency of the attorney pool.
- 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.
- Lead content development for OCR’s youth center and promote youth engagement through stakeholder collaboration.
- Identify and recommend improvements to current practices regarding youth engagement, empowerment, and rights.
- Develop and advance legal strategies to promote children’s and youth’s interests at the trial level, including courtroom litigation, motions practice, and out-of-court advocacy.
- Monitor relevant case law, legislation, and rules; track rulemaking activities related to trial-level advocacy.
- Serve as key staff attorney and content lead for trial skills training; develop and deliver training for attorneys.
- Coordinate OCR’s Second Chair program and other trial litigation supports.
- Manage OCR’s Litigation Toolkit, ensuring accuracy and accessibility of pleadings and litigation tools.
- 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 advancing youth rights.
- Represent OCR on state, national, and other committees to advocate for youth voice and justice.
- Support OCR staff collaboratively and assist with additional tasks as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
- Licensed attorney in the state of Colorado with an active license in good standing.
- Minimum of 3 years of work-related experience as a practicing attorney, preferably in juvenile law and/or as a GAL/CFY.
- 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 and youth rights.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience representing children and youth as a GAL, CFY, or in a similar attorney role.
- Strong trial skills and experience.
Work Environment
- Position will begin 100% remotely with an eventual transition to a hybrid work model.
- Preference given to applicants within the Denver metro area.
- Applicants outside the Denver metro area must reside in Colorado, perform job responsibilities effectively from a remote environment, and be reasonably available for in-person meetings and events in the metro area.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
- The role may involve urgent situations and frequent interruptions.
Other Duties and Travel
- The office is small and may assign special projects or duties outside the primary scope as needed.
- 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%.
Equal Opportunity
The office is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. It is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer dedicated to achieving a diverse workforce.
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit the following:
- Cover letter
- Resume (with optional redaction of age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation per applicable law)
- Minimum of three professional references
- Writing sample demonstrating aptitude for advocating for children and youth at the trial level
- 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. Successful candidates will be contacted for virtual or in-person interviews.
Compensation
Each position within the Judicial Branch has an assigned salary range. New hires typically begin employment toward the beginning of the pay range, based on experience and other factors.
Location
Colorado (remote with eventual hybrid work in Denver metro area)