PARENTAL DEFENSE DIVISION: PREPETITION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (Assistant Public Defender I & II (Contractual))

Introduction

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD), Parental Defense\r\nDivision (PDD), is seeking an attorney to serve as an essential team member on\r\nthe Better Together Early Family Advocacy Program, a grant-funded project in\r\nBaltimore City to assist families who come into contact with the Family\r\nPolicing System/Child Welfare System due to allegations of child abuse or\r\nneglect. The project expands the representation of families beyond the judicial\r\nsphere, aiming to protect the rights of families to remain intact. This is a\r\ngrant-funded contractual position.\r\n�\r\nMOPD’s vision is for justice, fairness, and dignity for all, and we are\r\ncommitted to our core values of maintaining a culture of excellence, providing\r\nclient-centered representation, tenacious advocacy, and being united in\r\nachieving our mission. At MOPD we use our legal education and experience to\r\nfight for justice and fairness, and we refuse to remain silent in the midst of\r\nhuman suffering. Our unique talents, identities, educational backgrounds, and\r\nperspectives guide us in representing our clients. We stand up against\r\nprejudice, systemic racism, and inequity. MOPD seeks a candidate who will join\r\nus in providing compassionate, competent, zealous, and client-centered\r\nrepresentation. Learn more about our mission and commitment to diversity,\r\nequity, and inclusion.​\r\n

GRADE

ASTD21 & ASTD20\r\n

LOCATION OF POSITION

Baltimore City, Maryland\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

\r\nOVERVIEW OF POSITION\r\n�\r\nThe Better Together Early\r\nFamily Advocacy Program utilizes a multidisciplinary team to support parents\r\nwho are being investigated by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and are\r\nat risk of having their children separated from them and placed in foster care.\r\nBetter Together aims to prevent family separation and ensure that children are\r\nnot unnecessarily placed in the foster system.� The team consists of a\r\nlawyer, social worker, and parent advocate who will provide distinct services\r\nrelevant to their area of expertise that respond to the issues identified for\r\nthe individual client. The lawyer’s advocacy will include advising parents of\r\ntheir rights and responsibilities in terms of responding to DSS and meeting\r\ntheir children’s needs, assisting parents in making custodial arrangements for\r\ntheir children with family members, taking actions to protect against domestic\r\nviolence, resolving criminal warrants, and assisting with removing legal\r\nimpediments to keeping custody of their children. The position will also\r\ninclude providing legal representation in administrative hearings and in some\r\nemergency Child In Need of Assistance (CINA) hearings if a petition is filed in\r\nCircuit Court.\r\n�\r\nBy providing these\r\nservices early in the investigation, parents will be better equipped to\r\nsuccessfully resolve concerns arising during the investigation, avoid having a\r\nCINA petition filed against them, and prevent family separation. This position\r\nwill be located in Baltimore City, Maryland.\r\n�\r\nPRIMARY DUTIES &\r\nRESPONSIBILITIES\r\n�\r\n●Protect clients’\r\nConstitutional rights to raise and rear their children by providing prepetition\r\nlegal services to parents when they come into contact with DSS, informing\r\nclients as to their rights and responsibilities, and advocating for them as\r\nthey navigate their involvement with DSS before a court petition is filed.\r\n●Engage in prepetition\r\nlegal advocacy and radical early defense strategies to avoid family separation\r\nand foster care.\r\n●Organize and participate\r\nin community outreach to disseminate information about the Better Together\r\nProgram.\r\n●If a CINA petition is\r\nfiled, appear at the initial shelter care hearing to assist or brief the\r\nassigned Assistant Public Defender (APD) in circumstances where appropriate, or\r\nprepare a transfer memo to the assigned shelter attorney.\r\n●If a CINA petition is\r\nfiled, prepare a transfer memorandum and case file to be given to the assigned\r\nAPD so APD can prepare for the shelter care hearing or non-emergency hearing.\r\n●Develop and maintain\r\nclient relationships over the extended pendency of the case.\r\n●Collaborate with PDD\r\nsocial workers, criminal defense attorneys, parent advocates, immigration\r\nattorneys, and others as part of a multidisciplinary defense team.\r\n●Maintain records and\r\ndata to enable OPD to track the outcome of cases.\r\n●Engage with clients\r\nwho are experiencing challenges and legal/societal/intellectual barriers in a\r\nnonjudgmental and empathetic manner.\r\n●Effectively and\r\ncompassionately communicate with clients, colleagues, and service providers to\r\nensure optimal outcomes for clients.\r\n\r\n\r\n●Continuously seek\r\nprofessional and personal development through training, continuing legal\r\neducation, and trial skills courses.\r\n\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

\r\n\r\nCORE COMPETENCIES & REQUIREMENTS\r\n�\r\n● Demonstrated commitment to serving marginalized communities.\r\n● Committed to challenging the family policing system.\r\n● Ability to work independently and autonomously.\r\n● Compassion and empathy.\r\n● Strong interpersonal\r\nskills and the ability to communicate effectively with people with different backgrounds and experiences.\r\n● Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, diverse, team-oriented environment.\r\n● Ability to use\r\ntechnology to telework and participate in virtual court hearings and meetings as necessary.\r\n● Strong organizational, legal, and administrative skills necessary to\r\nhandle a high caseload with short deadlines.\r\n● Prior experience in litigation including CINA/TPR, Criminal, Civil,\r\nJuvenile, or Family Law (experience may include internships, law school clinical\r\nprograms, or any other relevant experience).\r\n● Strong communication and client advocacy skills.\r\n● Active membership in good standing in the Maryland Bar or Bar of\r\nanother state. Individuals who are members of the Bar of another\r\nState must be admitted to the Maryland Bar within 18 months of the start date.\r\n\r\n

BENEFITS

SALARY AND BENEFITS\r\n�\r\nSalary is dependent on experience and salary rules will apply to State of\r\nMaryland employees.\r\nPlease visit the State of Maryland Employee’s page to review benefit\r\ninformation.\r\n�\r\nAssistant Public Defender I: starting at Grade 20, Step 06 $42.67 per\r\nhour.\r\nAssistant Public Defender II: starting at Grade 21, Step 08 $47.39 per\r\nhour. ​\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO APPLY\r\n�\r\nIf you wish to be considered, please click here to fill out the\r\napplication and upload the following �documents\r\nin one PDF attachment on the Resume Tab in the JobAps Application: (1) a\r\ncurrent resume, (2) a cover letter, and (3) a list of four professional\r\nreferences, (4) writing sample no longer than 15 ages, and (5) an\r\nofficial/unofficial law school transcript (if graduated from within the past 3\r\nyears).\r\n�\r\nIncomplete applications will not be considered.\r\n�\r\nAs a State agency, the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) is\r\nan affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. MOPD is committed to the\r\nfull inclusion of all qualified individuals without regard to race, color,\r\nreligion, sex, physical or mental disability, age, sexual orientation, gender\r\nidentity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.\r\n​\r\nAll applicants must be able to communicate with clients and visitors and\r\npossess the ability to complete tasks in a fast-paced work environment.\r\nApplicants must be able to work in various positions and travel to various\r\ncourtrooms and office environments throughout the state. MOPD is further\r\ncommitted to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for\r\nindividuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities\r\nby modifying or adjusting the job application process or the job or work\r\nenvironment to make reasonable accommodations to the known applicant or\r\nemployee to enable the applicant or employee be considered for the position\r\nthey desire; to perform the essential functions of the position in question; or\r\nto enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other\r\nsimilarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation\r\nimposes an undue hardship.\r\n​\r\nApplicants must be able to operate a computer and other office equipment.\r\nApplicants must have access to a motor vehicle or be able to navigate public\r\ntransportation. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Tawanda\r\nJackson, Human Resources Supervisor, 410-767-8503 tawandal.jackson@maryland.gov\r\n�\r\nApplicants can expect a background check to occur after a conditional\r\noffer of employment is made. As we see lived experiences as an asset to this\r\nrole, we do not anticipate background checks playing a decisive role in the\r\nselection process. Accordingly, we encourage all candidates to apply,\r\nregardless of criminal, credit, or driving history.\r\n�\r\nAssistant Public Defenders are full-time employees who serve at the\r\npleasure of the Public Defender. Criminal Procedure Art., Section 16-203(d).\r\nAssistant Public Defenders cannot engage in the private practice of law while\r\nin this position.\r\n