LOCATION: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Family Services Division, Child Protection Sections
200 I Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003

REMOTE WORK STATUS: A hybrid remote telework/in-office schedule option is available upon supervisory approval.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) is committed to providing the highest quality legal and programmatic services to the District and its residents while ensuring the health and safety of employees, customers, clients, volunteers, contractors, and other visitors.

The District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General values the safety of our employees, our residents, and our visitors. In support of these values, OAG employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including having received a booster shot within five months from either the date of the second shot for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (or two months from the single-shot of Johnson & Johnson), except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are the selected candidate, as of your start date, you must provide proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including timely received booster vaccine, or you must request an exemption from your representative.

JOB REQUISITION NUMBER: 2022-161

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One (1)

OPENING DATE: September 26, 2022

CLOSING DATE: October 17, 2022

SALARY RANGE: $106,884 - $114,010

• This range is within the Legal Service salary schedule from Grade 13, Step 1 to Grade 13, step 3. The salary range is based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines.

PAY PLAN, SERIES, AND GRADE: LA-905-13

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Legal Service – Regular Appointment

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT: This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 1403. If you opt to join the union, and consent, a service fee will be paid through direct payroll deduction.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to the Public

Attorneys in the Child Protection Sections represent the District of Columbia on behalf of the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) in an attorney-client relationship in child abuse and neglect cases in the Family Court of the D.C. Superior Court. There are four Child Protection Sections and attorneys in these sections handle all aspects of child neglect litigation on behalf of the District and CFSA, from petitioning through the achievement of permanency. Attorneys are responsible for petitioning new cases alleging child abuse or neglect, propounding and/or responding to discovery, filing and/or responding to pre-trial motions, participating in mediation, preparing witnesses to testify at trial, and presenting evidence at trial.

The attorneys also represent CFSA post-adjudication with the goal of ultimately securing a safe and permanent home for children through reunification, adoption, or guardianship. In the post-adjudication phase of a neglect case, attorneys are responsible for representing CFSA at review of disposition, status, and permanency hearings, participating in evidentiary hearings, filing motions and responsive pleadings. In addition, the attorneys provide advice and counsel to social workers and other professionals from CFSA regarding compliance with local and federal law, participate in team meetings as necessary, and work with various multi-disciplinary team members. Attorneys simultaneously maintain a trial caseload and post-adjudication caseload.

Description of Duties: The attorney will work predominately on matters involving the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (“CSEC”). The attorney will be assigned matters with either a suspicion of or disclosure of CSEC that are not yet assigned to HOPE Court, the Family Court’s CSEC specialty calendar. The attorney will also serve as back-up to the HOPE court attorney and will assist with education, outreach, policy development and other duties associated with the CSEC work of the division and office.

The attorney’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Development and implementation of protocols pertaining to CSEC cases;
• Assist with drafting a memorandum of understanding between stakeholders, including D.C. Superior Court, Department of Behavioral Health, and Child and Family Services Agency;
• Attend court staffings, court hearings, and all meetings related to HOPE court;
• Attend MDT case review regarding children with identified CSEC concerns and collaborate with MDT partners outside of case review to support the completion of timely follow up recommendations;
• Advise CFSA and OAG regarding compliance with federal and local human trafficking legislation and participate in the DC City Council process as needed;
• Contribute to OAG’s efforts to educate the public and community-based organizations about CSEC-related issues; develop written materials and curriculum for such purposes;
• Conduct periodic trainings for CFSA and OAG staff;
• Conduct periodic training for community stakeholders including medical professionals, other government employees, and federal partners.
• Represent FSD on the D.C. Human Trafficking Taskforce and all CFSA CSEC committees;
• Work collaboratively with OAG’s Public Safety Division to identify crossover issues impacting all children served by CFSA;
• Represent CFSA at juvenile court hearing as needed;
• Handle all aspects of neglect litigation, from petitioning through the achievement of permanency; and
• Provide advice and counsel to social workers and other CFSA professionals regarding compliance with local and federal law.

Qualifications: The candidate should have the following qualifications:
• Significant knowledge of trafficking matters;
• Knowledge of family law including child abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, and adoption;
• Exceptional legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
• Experience conducting training or public outreach;
• A demonstrated commitment to work in child welfare;
• Experience with specialty courts and an understanding of CSEC issues (strongly preferred) and
a minimum of 2 years of legal experience in child welfare or a related field.

ELIGIBILITY: The successful candidate must have a law degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar of any jurisdiction. If not a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the candidate must be sworn into the District of Columbia Bar within 360 days of his/her initial appointment with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A substitution of education for required experience will be allowed as defined in OPM’s Qualification Standards. However, to receive credit, applicants must submit official proof of educational attainment at the time of application.

TIME-IN-GRADE RESTRICTIONS: Time-in-grade restrictions must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates must apply online by 11:59 pm of the closing date. All applications must include the completed questionnaire, along with a cover letter, resume, a list of three professional references including supervisors, and a writing sample. Please ensure that all required documents are included prior to submitting the application.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS

GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING: The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks.

PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: Displaced Employee Priority Placement: Candidates who are eligible for the District of Columbia’s Displaced Employee Program (DEP) and Agency Reemployment Priority Placement Program (ARPP) will be given priority consideration for this position if found qualified.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation), and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government’s retirement plan. However, if the selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia’s government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants claiming veterans’ preference must submit official proof at the time of application.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after the conviction of or a plea of guilty to a violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, genetic information, or political affiliation.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, source of income, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

OFFICIAL JOB OFFERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL