Statewide Litigation Attorney- 60074548

Requisition No: 835292 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: Statewide Litigation Attorney- 60074548

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 60074548 

Salary:  $75,000 

Posting Closing Date: 10/16/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Children’s Legal Services

Department of Children and Families

Tampa, FL

Open Competitive

This position is eligible for full-time permanent appointment.

What you will do:

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN BY BEING THE LEADER IN THE COURTROOM!

Children’s Legal Services attorneys advocate for the safety, well-being, and permanency of Florida’s abused, abandoned, and neglected children.  With a team of more than 300 attorneys, CLS is the leader in the courtroom at each stage of a Chapter 39 proceeding.

This position will join the Statewide Attorney Team, which takes the lead on litigating cases in Florida’s dependency courtrooms.  The CLS attorney will be working with multiple circuits throughout the state by assisting with drafting, case review, hearing coverage, and trial litigation.  To be available to perform these duties around the state, the team member will not carry a regular caseload in a circuit or participate in on-call rotation.  As a member of the Statewide Attorney Team, the CLS attorney will collaborate with investigators and case managers to gather the evidence necessary to support the legal action that is appropriate for each child and to prepare those partners to serve as witnesses at trial.  The ideal team member is someone who thrives on litigating in the courtroom by leveraging the best advocacy practices.  While virtual communications will be leveraged as much as possible to perform assignments, travel will be required for this role.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of three years of dependency experience.
• CLS experience is preferred.
• A proven track record of driving permanency and successfully working with community partners.
• Exemplary understanding of dependency best practices, the Florida Rules of Evidence, Chapter 39, and the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure.
• Excellent legal writing and research skills.
• Superior litigation skills that mirror the statewide best practices taught by the training and appellate teams.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work individually and with a team.
• Ability to travel up to 5 nights/month.

Training Provided:

• Multi-week onboarding program created by trainers certified by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy
• Quarterly intensive multi-day New Attorney Training conducted by certified trainers
• Annual multi-day Advanced Litigation Academy conducted by certified trainers
• Fulfillment of all CLE requirements through webinars and live trainings on topics including case law updates, statutory changes, courtroom skills, evidence, ethics, and legal writing.

Benefits for Working for the State of Florida:

• Florida Bar annual dues are paid for by the Department, contingent upon agency approval
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• No state income tax for residents of Florida
• On each anniversary date, you will be accredited 176 hours of annual leave and 104 hours of sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options (health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options)
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers
• And more!

Compensation:

For a full-time permanent appointment, the annual base salary is $75,000 and total compensation inclusive of the benefits listed above is valued at a minimum of $103,940.  Actual total compensation will vary based on insurance and retirement elections.

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit an online application that includes a cover letter indicating your interest in the Statewide Attorney Team and a resume that demonstrates your qualifications.  You may be requested to subsequently provide a writing sample, law school transcripts, and references to assist the committee.

Growth Opportunities:

We have several ways you can grow as an attorney with CLS.  There are pathways for promotion for those who want to be leaders in the courtroom and for those who would rather be leaders in the office.  To open the door for growth, CLS invites all of its team members to participate on special projects that create strategies for better outcomes for children.  Come grow with us today!

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.