GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, STATE OFFICE, LEGAL REGIONAL COUNSEL - 21016315

Requisition No: 859412 

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, STATE OFFICE, LEGAL REGIONAL COUNSEL - 21016315

 Pay Plan: Justice Admin Comm.

Position Number: 21016315 

Salary:  $85,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 09/08/2025 

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Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office

GUARDIAN AD LITEM LEGAL REGIONAL COUNSEL

THIS IS A FULL-TIME REMOTE POSITION COVERING ASSIGNED AREAS WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

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 LEON COUNTY for the job location

OR

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

TRAVEL WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS REQUIRED.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

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.  The Office assigns a multi-disciplinary team which is comprised of a guardian ad litem attorney, a child welfare professional, and hopefully a community volunteer or pro bono attorney, to represent each child the Office is court appointed to. More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at www.guardianadlitem.org

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. As a fulltime employee, your employee 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 halftime 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
• (1) 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 waivers
• 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 WORK 

This is a highly independent, responsible, managerial position, providing leadership and oversight of Guardian ad Litem Office Managing Attorneys and their subordinate attorneys located in assigned circuits (region).  While reporting directly to the Director of Legal Services for all activities related to legal and supervision practices, the Regional Legal Counsel works in full collaboration  with Regional Director(s) to achieve the Office’s primary mission:  representing children through a best interest standard of decision making and advocacy.  The Legal Regional Counsel may serve as a representative of the Office and may at times serve on local and statewide committees as directed and must display professionalism and integrity when interacting with the public, stakeholders, The Florida Bar, and the judiciary. 

The Legal Regional Counsel works collaboratively with GAL leadership to achieve Office goals and objectives and to provide oversight of staff who are accountable for achieving Office goals and objectives.  Supports high-quality legal representation of children appointed to the Office.   The Legal Regional Counsel provides strategic and operational support in developing and disseminating training to all GAL staff and volunteers. Assumes primary role,  in developing and distributing legal training to all Guardian ad Litem staff.  Collaborates with Regional Management team members, Circuit leadership, and State Office Training resources to develop and deliver effective legal training to build relevant knowledge and technical legal skills and competency, with specific emphasis on  knowledge of the child welfare system, trauma-informed practices, and services available to meet the needs of children appointed to the Office.  Manages compliance of subordinate attorneys with Guardian ad Litem Office ongoing training requirements.  The Legal Regional Counsel Manages and provides oversight of the implementation and execution of Guardian ad Litem Office policies, practices, and procedures through active supervision.  Supervision includes but is not limited to mentoring, participation in case conferences, file reviews, data report review, supervision meetings, and other performance reviews or evaluations required by policy or standards.  This includes supervising subordinate employees by, where appropriate, assigning work, reviewing progress, and assessing performance within both the Administration and Personnel Management areas within your assigned Regions.

ABOUT THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Must possess a valid Florida driver license.

Graduation from an accredited law school, membership in The Florida Bar, and five years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of dependency law.  Trial experience is essential.  Supervisory experience is preferred.  An exception for the required experience may be granted by the Executive Director or designee.

ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Legal skills and knowledge of Ch. 39, F.S., sufficient to effectively represent children in legal proceedings. Admission to The Florida Bar in good standing.  Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.  Ability to organize, develop and deliver presentations.  Knowledge of Guardian ad Litem Office policies and procedures, regulations, and the legal environment they operate.  Knowledge of current and developing legal issues and trends in child welfare.  Ability to apply principles and practices of effective supervision; plan, organize, prioritize, assign, and delegate work; evaluate staff performance.     

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.