Senior Attorney

GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 5TH CIRCUIT – SENIOR ATTORNEY – 21016314

Location: Ocala, FL, US, 34475
Nearest Major Market: Ocala

Position Details

Requisition No: 856968
Agency: Justice Administrative Commission
Working Title: Guardian ad Litem Office, 5th Circuit – Senior Attorney – 21016314
Pay Plan: Justice Admin Comm.
Position Number: 21016314
Salary: $66,979.84 Annually
Work Type: Hybrid (flexible for a remote work schedule after successful onboarding)
Total Compensation Estimator Tool: Available

About the Organization and the Opportunity

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.

Guardian ad Litem Attorneys are assigned by the Office to represent children as part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes a child welfare professional and hopefully a community volunteer or pro bono attorney. In addition, dependency judges rely on the Guardian ad Litem to provide them with thorough and accurate information regarding the children under the court’s jurisdiction. More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at www.guardianadlitem.org.

Benefits Package

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. Total compensation inclusive of the benefits listed below is valued at a minimum of $93,137.24. Actual total compensation will vary based on insurance and retirement elections.

As a full-time employee, your 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 half-time employees, health insurance options are still available to you as long as you are in a salaried position.

Employment Benefits

1. State of Florida Retirement package – Pension or investment plan (3% employee contribution required)

2. (9) Paid state holidays

3. (1) Paid personal holiday

4. (13) Paid sick leave days

5. (176) Annual leave hours

6. Life insurance ($25,000) provided by the state at no cost to you for all FTE positions. Employee may purchase additional coverage.

7. Additional supplemental insurances available such as dental, vision, disability, etc.

8. Florida Bar annual dues paid for by the Agency, contingent upon agency approval.

9. Public Loan Forgiveness Program.

10. No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida.

11. No mandatory night/weekend/holiday scheduled shifts.

12. State Tuition Waiver Program.

13. Introductory training on guardianship practice, dependency law, and practice fundamentals as well as best practice guidance for attorneys communicating with and representing children.

14. 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.

15. Online training academy with a catalog of introductory and advanced courses on topics including dependency law, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, psychotropic medications, independent living, developmental disabilities, trauma, human trafficking, educational advocacy, and more.

16. Lexis Nexis legal research search engine access.

About the Work

This position has the ability to be flexible for a remote work schedule after successful onboarding. Work is performed under the supervision of the Managing Attorney or his or her designee.

Guardian ad Litem Attorneys are assigned by the Office to represent children and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, representing each child with a focus on timely achievement of permanency and normalcy for the child. The work involves contact with people in stressful situations, and the incumbent must exercise discretion in dealing with confidential and extremely sensitive issues before the court.

The incumbent reviews case files to identify legal issues, conducts an independent investigation of the facts of the case, researches and develops legal strategies for the cases, files pleadings and motions, attends court proceedings including hearings, depositions, and mediations, and meets with Guardian ad Litem staff, witnesses, collateral contacts pertinent to the case, and the children represented by the Office.

The Senior Attorney represents, advocates, and negotiates for the assigned children inside and outside the courtroom. Senior Attorneys assist other Guardian ad Litem Attorneys in developing and implementing case strategies. The incumbent also performs other duties assigned by management.

Incumbents in this class report directly to the Managing Attorney of their assigned Circuit for all activities related to the practice of law, and also work under the operational and administrative supervision of the Circuit Director.