The Dependency Court Legal Services is seeking applicants for the position of Executive Director. In just ten years, Los Angeles based DCLS has become one of the country's largest and most highly regarded organizations dedicated to providing legal representation for abused and neglected children. The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to build on this solid foundation of accomplishment and turn the organization into a national model for effective legal representation of children from troubled families. As the preceding discussion makes clear, this is an opportunity to lead an organization with the potential for setting the standard for legal and other services for at-risk children and dysfunctional families. While no one person will posses all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate would have the following professional and personal characteristics.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.
Founded in 1989 as a nonprofit corporation, DCLS provides legal representation to children in the Los Angeles Juvenile Dependency Court, as directed by the Court in accordance with the California Welfare and Institutions Code. DCLS attorneys represent children and a small percentage of adults in juvenile court cases involving children at risk because of alleged child abuse and neglect. In addition to allegations of abuse and neglect, DCLS deals with a wide range of issues including medical, psychological and educational needs, substance abuse, parenting skills, custody, visitation, placement and adoption. Organized into three separate law firms, each with its own suite of offices, supervisors, staff attorneys and other staff, DCLS currently employs approximately 92 attorneys. There is also a 40-person staff of paralegals, social workers, social work investigators and clerical workers.