GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 17TH CIRCUIT- SENIOR ATTORNEY- 21012948

Requisition No: 862301 

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 17TH CIRCUIT- SENIOR ATTORNEY- 21012948

 Pay Plan: Justice Admin Comm.

Position Number: 21012948 

Salary:  $75,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 10/31/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE

Guardian ad Litem – Senior Attorney – Lead Attorney

IMPORTANT! – Please navigate to the following website:  www.guardianadlitem.org to apply for this position:

• Click on the “Career Opportunities” icon.
• Scroll down to the link, “Submit Your Guardian ad Litem Employment Application Here.”
• Complete the “mini” job application and attach your current resume.
• Select  Broward County for the job location

OR

• Email your mini application and resume directly to C17.Apps@gal.fl.gov

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned and neglected children in Florida’s dependency court proceedings.  The Office upholds the highest standards of integrity, excellence and child-centered representation. Guardian ad Litem Attorneys are assigned by the Office to represent children as part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes a child welfare professional and hopefully a community volunteer or pro bono attorney.  In addition, dependency judges rely on the Guardian ad Litem to provide them with thorough and accurate information regarding the children under the court’s jurisdiction.  More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at www.guardianadlitem.org.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

As an employee with the State of Florida, your benefits are a significant part of your compensation with 19 percent of your total compensation coming from the benefits that the State offers. Total compensation inclusive of the benefits listed below is valued at a minimum of $93,137.24.  Actual total compensation will vary based on insurance and retirement elections.

As a full-time employee, your insurance rate will be significantly low due to the contribution of the State of Florida. In fact, single coverage is as low as $8.34 per month with family coverage costing only $30 per month. While the rates are higher for half-time employees, health insurance options are still available to you as long as you are in a salaried position.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: 

• State of Florida Retirement package – Pension or investment plan (3% employee contribution required)

• (9) Paid state holidays
• Paid personal holiday
• (13) Paid sick leave days
• (176) Annual leave hours
• Life insurance $25,000 is provided by the state at no cost to you for all FTE positions.  Employee may purchase additional coverage
• Additional supplemental insurances are available such as dental, vision, disability, etc.
• Florida Bar annual dues are paid for by the Agency, contingent upon agency approval
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida
• No mandatory night/weekend/holiday scheduled work
• State Tuition Waiver Program
• Introductory training on guardianship practice, dependency law and practice fundamentals as well as best practice guidance for attorneys communicating with and representing children.
• Ongoing live in-person trainings and webinars on case law, evidence, legal writing, trial skills, and ethics which fulfills CLE requirements.  Annual advanced litigation skills training. 
• Online training academy with a catalog of introductory and advanced courses on topics to include dependency law, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, psychotropic medications, independent living, developmental disabilities, trauma, human trafficking, educational advocacy, and more.
• Lexis Nexis legal research search engine access.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The role of the Lead Attorney is to assist the Managing Attorney in the management of the legal

team. The Lead Attorney must be a Senior Attorney with at least 3 years' experience with the Office.

In addition to fulfilling the requirements of the Senior Attorney, the Lead Attorney should also have demonstrated leadership ability and organizational skills. While having the ability to lead the entire legal team if necessary, the Lead Attorney is primarily responsible for supervision of practice in designated counties and assigned areas of special litigation.

ABOUT THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of the Lead Attorney include but are not limited to: special litigation in designated area(s) of subject-matter expertise, supervision of attorneys throughout the circuit as assigned in the area of special litigation/expertise, and supervision of attorneys in assigned county/counties. These duties will necessarily require the following activities: reviewing motions; assisting attorneys in the development of legal strategy; representing the Office on committees with community partners; providing legal training to new volunteers and ongoing training in the assigned area of special litigation; assisting the Managing Attorney in implementing Statewide Office policies and procedures and developing internal procedures for the legal team; serving as acting Managing Attorney as necessary; and performing other duties as may be assigned by the Managing Attorney.

The Lead Attorney will confer with the Managing Attorney on matters of employee discipline but ultimate decision-making authority remains that of the Managing Attorney in consultation with the Circuit Director.

ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Possession of legal skills and knowledge sufficient to represent the children appointed to the Office as evidenced by admission to The Florida Bar. Ability to advocate effectively in court on behalf of the child.
• Knowledge of juvenile law, including relevant rules of procedure and evidence, and guardian ad litem legal representation for children.
• Ability to communicate effectively and deal tactfully with individuals involved in litigation and stressful situations. Ability to work with individuals from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to utilize a personal computer, including software programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

ABOUT THE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• A valid Florida Driver’s License is required.
• Graduation from an accredited law school, membership in the Florida Bar and two years of experience in the practice of dependency or related law.  Candidates may be considered pending admission to The Florida Bar if granted by the Executive Director or his designee.  Strong trial skills preferred.
• An exception for the required experience may be granted by the Executive Director or their designee.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.