Attorney II - Children and Youth

The Lehigh County Department of Law has a vacancy for an Attorney II position for representation of the Lehigh County Office of ChildrenYouth Services ("LCOCYS"). This position involves rendering legal services and providing legal advice on matters affecting LCOCYS. Work is at the full professional performance level, although work is usually performed within a specific area of law, to wit: Juvenile Dependency law, Child Protective Services ("CPS") law, the Adoption Act, and the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act. This position requires the application of judgement and technical proficiency in case management. Employees in this class will be required to handle a variety of legal problems ranging from moderately difficult to considerably complex.

The employee in this position will work independently in conducting legal research required for the rendering of decisions affecting LCOCYS operation, in preparing documents and, in the preparation and execution of trials and hearings including, but not limited to: Shelter Care hearings, Adjudicatory hearings, Permanency Review hearings, Change of Disposition hearings, Modification of Placement hearings, Change of Goal hearings, Termination of Parental Rights hearings, miscellaneous juvenile court hearings, and appellate arguments, subject to the general supervision of higher level attorneys, including the Legal Unit supervising attorney, based on the difficulty of the legal issues encountered.

The employee in this position will render legal advice to LCOCYS personnel; prepare and/or direct the preparation of pleadings, briefs, proposed Orders, etc.; conduct legal research; and perform all legal work on behalf of LCOCYS related to enforcing applicable law, and adhering to the rules and regulations of LCOCYS. The employee shall appear on behalf of LCOCYS in hearings before Judges and Judicial Hearing Officers, and shall litigate cases in all phases of Juvenile Dependency Court and Orphan's Court.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of statutory law, both the laws enacted by the General Assembly, and those contained in the Pennsylvania Code; knowledge of county, state and federal laws, particularly regarding general administrative and regulatory functions of county government; the Child Protective Services Law ("CPSL"); the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act; and Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure; and the Pennsylvania Adoption Act. Knowledge of judicial procedure and rules of evidence. Knowledge of the principles, methods, materials and practices of legal research. Knowledge of the methods and practices of pleadings, juvenile cases, and effective techniques for the presentation of cases in court. Ability to analyze and organize facts, evidence and precedents involved in moderately complex cases, and ability to present such materials effectively to the Court.