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Organizational Background 

Open City Advocates (OCA) provides youth-centered legal defense and holistic advocacy for young people after sentencing in the juvenile justice system. This approach combines lawyering, advocacy, and mentoring to better guide youth through the system and set them up for success. OCA’s client-centered approach is foundational to the various systemic reform issues that we tackle with the juvenile justice system and the broader juvenile social service ecosystem.

OCA provides holistic legal representation to youth who have been committed to the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). We tackle racial inequity in our juvenile justice system where it is most extreme, as 100% of youth who are committed to DYRS are youth of color. Based on the knowledge we gain from our direct client services, we then spearhead systemic reform efforts to end the revolving door of the juvenile and criminal justice systems, safeguard and expand due process protections, and encourage individualized, trauma-responsive services for court-involved youth. In 2020, the DC Court of Appeals ruled in our favor in our longstanding impact litigation case, In re N.H.M. (224 A.3d 581 (2020)). As a result of this decision, youth in DC’s juvenile justice system now have a clearly established right to an attorney throughout their commitment to DYRS.

To actualize this right to counsel, OCA has partnered with DC’s Family Court to create a Post-Commitment Juvenile Attorney Panel, as a part of which OCA’s staff attorneys provide specialized, court-appointed representation to youth committed to DYRS. OCA is now hiring a Staff Attorney to assist with implementation of the panel. 

Now Hiring: Staff Attorney

Position Overview

Through zealous representation and holistic advocacy, the Staff Attorney’s primary role is to represent youth committed to DYRS as part of the Post-Commitment Juvenile Attorney Panel. The Staff Attorney is expected to provide effective and trauma-responsive legal representation, which requires accurate and timely case management. This individual will also provide informal advocacy and reentry assistance to clients who are no longer committed to DYRS. Lastly, the Staff Attorney will identify client-related issues in need of policy reform, communicate these issues to OCA’s leadership, and will have the opportunity to take part in client-related systemic reform and youth empowerment efforts.

Key Functions & Responsibilities

The Staff Attorney is a full-time position, and will be supported and supervised by OCA’s Legal Director, Raymond Ngu. 

  • Provide client-centered, post-commitment (i.e., post-sentencing) defense, including reentry planning, to OCA’s clients in the delinquency system. 

  • Provide informal advocacy, reentry planning, and mentoring to clients who are no longer in the delinquency system. 

  • Represent youth in court hearings, administrative proceedings, team meetings, reentry meetings, and any appeals of those proceedings. 

  • Maintain regular contact with clients, family members, caseworkers, and service providers, including regular visits with incarcerated clients. 

  • Address collateral issues, such as education, employment, housing, immigration, mental health, and record sealing, either directly or through client referrals. 

  • Formally and informally advocate for clients’ release from secure settings.

  • Draft sentencing mitigation letters on behalf of clients as needed. 

  • For clients returning from incarceration, assist clients with comprehensive reentry planning. 

  • Support the incorporation of youth voice and experience into OCA’s systemic reform efforts.

  • Engage in systemic advocacy to support policies that support our youth and their families and communities.

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctorate and membership in the District of Columbia Bar or pending waiver application for admission to the DC Bar through reciprocity.

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.

  • Collaborative, detail-oriented, and able to work independently.

  • Experience in juvenile and/or criminal justice is strongly preferred. Relevant law school clinical experience will be considered.

  • Experience with the communities and/or demographic of OCA’s clients is also strongly preferred. 

  • Experience working directly with teens and young adults is a plus.

  • Experience in non-profits or government is a plus.

  • Experience in a start-up environment is a plus. 

  • A valid driver’s license.

Number of Clients Served

We estimate the Staff Attorney will handle around 15 clients with active representation, which will gradually increase to include formerly committed clients. 

Compensation & Benefits

  • Salary is $75,000 - $90,000, depending on experience. 

  • Benefits include: 

    • Health, dental, and vision insurance, with OCA covering 90% of an individual policy.

    • Paid federal and DC holidays, sick leave, and 15 days of vacation.

    • 401(k) matching program (3% after first 3 months). 

    • Employer-sponsored short and long-term disability after one year. 

    • Up to 12 weeks of parental leave, and professional development opportunities. 

    • Flexible, hybrid work schedule with at least 2-3 days per week in person. 

How to Apply

Please submit cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample (preferably an advocacy piece) to Raymond Ngu at raymond@opencityadvocates.org.

Application Deadline

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until June 21, 2024. Ideal start date: as soon as possible.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Open City Advocates embraces diversity of identity, experience, ability, and thought, and we are an equal opportunity employer. We are actively striving to create and support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our staff, board of directors, client services, systemic reform efforts, and strategic direction. We encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ persons, differently-abled and neurodiverse people, and those with lived experience with the justice system to apply for all positions.