Assistant Staff Attorney

Dauphin County Social Services for Children & Youth is a public agency dedicated to the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families. The legal unit of Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth is seeking a full-time Assistant Staff Attorney.

To be eligible for this position, applicants must be an attorney licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania. Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth Staff Attorneys represent the agency at multiple court proceedings including, but not limited to, safety plan hearings, shelter hearings, adjudication and disposition hearings, permanency review hearings, child abuse hearings, and termination of parental rights hearings. In addition, job duties require the individual to advise Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth staff in diverse legal matters that arise during course of the agency’s operations. This position comes with a work attendance requirement of Monday through Friday from 8:15 to 4:45 p.m.  Salary is Commensurate with experience. 

Prospective Applicants should possess the following:

1. Knowledge of relevant Pennsylvania child welfare legal authority such as the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act, Title 55 of the Pennsylvania Code, the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, Title 18 (the Pennsylvania Crimes Code), the Pennsylvania Adoption Act, and Pennsylvania appellate court case precedent related to child welfare.
2. Two (2) years of experience, either as an attorney practicing child welfare law or as a professional in a child welfare career.
3. Experience preparing legal documents accurately and in a timely manner, such as letters, motions, pleadings, legal memoranda, and appellate briefs.
4. The ability to successfully manage an individual caseload of child welfare cases, which requires meeting individual case deadlines surrounding court, motions practice, and corresponding with opposing counsel.
5. The ability to competently advocate in hearings before Juvenile Court Hearing Officers, Court of Common Pleas Judges, and Pennsylvania administrative law judges.
6. Exemplary time management and organizational skills.
7. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
8. Proficiency with email, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, WestLaw, and WestLaw Next.
9. The ability to maintain a professional demeanor when interacting with clients, colleagues, attorneys, Judges, and Court staff.
10. The ability to effectively anticipate and manage concurrent tasks assigned by senior staff attorney.
11. The ability to effectively maintain a detailed daily schedule of responsibilities.
12. Exceptional punctuality related to daily work attendance and attending court proceedings.

Applicants must be an attorney licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.

A valid driver’s license and positive driving record, favorable references, and a favorable PA State Police and FBI criminal background check and a PA Child Abuse History Clearance are required.

A resume and cover letter are both required to be attached to the application.  Applicants who do not provide these items by the closing of the posting will not be interviewed.

Dauphin County communicates with applicants through emails and phone calls.  Please be sure to check your spam folder for emails.  Emails may be sent from the following accounts:

Maureen Bunn (Grants Coordinator) mbunn@dauphincounty.gov

Angelica Fiore (HR Analyst 2) afiore@dauphincounty.gov

Jason Norris (Clerk 2) jrnorris@dauphincounty.gov