Good Shepherd Services · 1 week ago
Director of Legal Services
Bronx, NY
Part-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$160K/yr - $170K/yr
3+ years expGood Shepherd Services is seeking a Director of Legal Services for their Enhanced Family Foster Care program. This role involves directing legal support services to assist in achieving permanency goals, overseeing the TPR process, adoption and KinGAP processes, and managing legal compliance and risk management.
CharityConsultingNon Profit
Responsibilities
Review Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) referrals for legal sufficiency. Assess the case record and confer with case planning teams to ensure that there is a cause of action to support filing a TPR
Review and approve TPR packages, ensure that service upon the respondents is effectuated, and attend court hearings as necessary to complete the TPR
Oversee diligent searches for participants as needed
Gather evidence, provide discovery to opposing counsel, and submit all exhibits via EDDS
Prepare witnesses for trial
Draft freeing orders and submit to court within two weeks of a court’s decision
Respond to or file Orders to Show Cause and other motions as necessary
Prepare and oversee execution of surrenders
Provide affirmations of status of appeal to the Director of the Permanency Team
Work closely with Senior Vice President and Senior Program Director to expedite adoption and KinGAP finalizations
Provide monthly updates to Adoption and KinGAP Coordinator to track the status of EFFC youth with goals of adoption or KinGAP
Consult with Adoption attorneys, as appropriate, regarding barriers related to adoptions and KinGAPs
Supervise EFFC Legal Assistant
Communicate with FCLS attorneys, child's attorneys, and birth parent attorneys to facilitate permanency
Review Permanency Hearing Reports, offer feedback to the teams on legal matters and attend permanency hearings and other hearings on neglect/PINS/destitute children dockets as necessary
Review and ensure compliance with subpoenas. Forward redacted records to appropriate parties
Provide periodic legal trainings as necessary
Research any legal issues as needed
Represent the agency as necessary at outside meetings with our funders or others
Attend Directors/Leadership and other administrative meetings, as necessary
Participate in a variety of inter and intra agency meetings, committees and task forces as assigned
Attend Trauma-Informed Practice meetings and lead the implementation of Trauma-Informed Practice within the department/program
Encourage and advance the use of the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture
Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture
Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment
Plans accordingly to minimize risk and impact on programs, participants and the agency
Responds appropriately to specific incidents and incident trends, and implements corrective action or programmatic change as needed
Periodically reviews policies and procedures to ensure best practices and necessary changes are made in a timely fashion
Communicates effectively to appropriate levels of accountability
Ensures staff participate in regulatory/compliance training prior to due dates to reduce program liabilities and risk
Ensures all staff are notified of all policies, liabilities and compliance requirements when onboarded and regularly when changes are introduced
Qualification
Required
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree; admitted to the New York State Bar and member in good standing
Minimum of three (3) years of experience practicing in New York State Family Court
Litigation experience representing or supporting children, youth, and/or families
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners
Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
Demonstrated commitment to working from a strengths-based, youth development, and trauma-informed perspective, consistent with the agency's mission and values
Company
Good Shepherd Services
Good Shepherd Services provides social services and support for children, youth and women from vulnerable communities.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Diana Noriega
Chief Anti-Racism and Equity Officer
Elizabeth Garcia
Chief Program Officer, Community Based Programs
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