Description:
Who We Are
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (“Law Foundation”) is dedicated to advancing the rights of historically excluded individuals and families throughout Santa Clara County. Through our legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach, we empower over 14,000 individuals and families each year. Our Housing, Children & Youth, Health and Pro Bono Programs use legal advocacy as a catalyst for social change, creating innovative solutions to the legal challenges facing low-income communities in our region. With a dedicated team of over 75 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. Learn more at https://www.lawfoundation.org/ .
The Opportunity
We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Staff Attorney to join our Children & Youth program’s dependency team at the Law Foundation. The Children and Youth Program provides free and confidential legal assistance to children and youth in juvenile dependency, family law, probate guardianship, immigration, education matters, and numerous other practice areas; advocacy to improve court and community systems designed to protect and promote child welfare; and workshops to educate youth, parents, caregivers and members of the community about issues impacting child welfare and legal rights.
What You’ll Do
As a Staff Attorney you will:
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Provide full-scope representation, advocacy, and information for minors in the juvenile dependency system
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Courtroom advocacy including hearings, trials, and mediation
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Work in tandem with a Children & Youth social worker to assess client needs
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Participate in regular Children & Youth team meetings, staff meetings, and program development activities
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Draft and file court documents, legal briefs and motions
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Perform general case management tasks, including data entry, filing, copying, and serving notices.
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Track time in our data management system
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Identify additional legal issues impacting dependent minors and advocate as appropriate
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Meet with clients in a variety of settings, including office, school, and home environments
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Collaborate with internal teams to ensure a seamless and people-centered approach to service delivery.
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Assist the Children & Youth Directing Attorney and Supervising Attorney, as needed
Requirements:
Who You Are
To be successful in this roll, you will bring:
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A strong commitment to providing high-quality legal representation to children and youth
- A demonstrated commitment to racial equity, inclusion, and belonging, and an understanding of how race and other intersecting identities shape our work and the systems impacting our clients
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A trauma-informed approach to legal practice and work sensitively with minors who have experienced trauma
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Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and organizational skills, including interviewing and client communication
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Excellent judgment and the ability to manage multiple clients, deadlines, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Alignment with the mission and values of the Law Foundation
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Comfort working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and across departments
Job Requirements
Applicants must:
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Be a current member in good standing with the California State Bar
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Be able to work independently, manage multiple clients and deadlines, and make sound legal decisions in high-pressure situations
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A valid driver’s license or reliable transportation to attend court hearings, home visits, and off-site meetings
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Have the physical ability to use standard office equipment and enter home environments that may contain smoke or other sensitivities
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Be proficient with Microsoft 365 (or similar tools) or similar and able to learn new computer systems
Preferred Qualifications (Strongly Desired)
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Experience in courtroom advocacy
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Experience in practicing youth law and/or juvenile dependency law
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Experience working with individuals from multiethnic communities
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Demonstrated commitment to serving children and youth and/or experience working with underserved communities
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Spanish language proficiency preferred but not required
What We Offer
This is a full-time, exempt position, reporting to Dependency Supervising Attorney. The annual salary range for this role is $81,000 to $109,000.
We are committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and professional development of our team members. To that end, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefit package, which includes.
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19 paid holidays per year
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3-5 weeks of vacation per year
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12 days of sick leave per year
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Up to 6 months of parental leave
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Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
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Free/discounted mental health therapy and wellness services for employees and their dependents through our Employee Assistance Program
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A 401(k)-retirement plan with employer contributions
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A sabbatical after 5 years of employment
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An additional monthly stipend for those who are bilingual and utilize their language abilities in the course of their job
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An annual budget for professional development
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Employer paid CA Bar license and/or social work license fees
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The flexibility to work a hybrid schedule
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An office building that offers a fully equipped gym, outdoor terrace, convenient on-site parking, bike storage, lounge areas, and 24/7 security
Workplace Expectations
The Law Foundation is a hybrid workplace. Please note that the Staff Attorney may be expected to work in our San Jose office a minimum of 2 days/week.
Employees must be California State residents. Due to logistical challenges regarding taxes, insurance, and time zones, we are not able to consider staff in other states at this time.
Working At the Law Foundation
The Law Foundation is a unionized workplace, and members of the bargaining unit are represented by SEIU Local 521. This position is part of the bargaining unit.
Additionally, the Law Foundation is strongly committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for our staff, volunteers, clients, and partners. To achieve this goal, the Law Foundation actively works to improve communications, community engagement, systems and structures, and office culture to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where differences are acknowledged and valued.
We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. Law Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior contact with the criminal legal system, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Application Process
Application materials must include:
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A cover letter addressing the following: How has your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to social justice, race equity and diversity among our staff?
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A resume
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Contact information for three professional references (we will always ask for your consent before contacting references)
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority review will be given to applications received by May 29, 2026. Please note that our interview process may include phone, video, and/or in-person interviews.
If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a team that values people, trust, accountability, creativity, joy, and fun, we would love to hear from you!
Equal Opportunity Employment
The Law Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer. We encourage people of color, womxn, people living with disabilities, older people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to apply. It is the policy of the Law Foundation to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. The Law Foundation will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
ADA Accessible Facility - Equal Opportunity Employer - Drug-Free Workplace
