| Requirements |
The Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel invites qualified applicants to apply for the position of Staff Attorney
– Carrie Ann Lucas Disability Advocacy Director. The staff attorney:
• Works with the Deputy and Executive Director to maintain a list of qualified trial counsel available for appointment in dependency cases.
• Conducts research on permanency outcomes for children in the child welfare system with disabilities,
access and barriers to services, and programs showing promise in permitting children to remain with parents with disabilities or reunifying with parents with disabilities.
• Provides individual case consults for attorneys who represent parents with disabilities and clients who
are parenting children with disabilities.
• Creates and maintains a public Carrie Ann Lucas resource portal on the ORPC website, which will house resources available to parents with disabilities and those representing them.
• Develops and formalizes practice guidelines specific to trial and appellate representation for parents in dependency cases. Works collaboratively with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, ORPC staff
attorneys, and RPC trial and appellate attorneys to develop and vet practice guidelines.
• Works collaboratively to develop and advance systemic trial advocacy issues.
• Monitors changes in case law, rules, regulations, and policies impacting respondent parent representation with special focus on the impacts to the disability community.
• Collaborates with the Training Director and Appellate Director to train lawyers statewide on litigation and advocacy strategy.
OFFICE OF RESPONDENT PARENTS’ COUNSEL | 1300 Broadway, Ste. 340 | Denver, CO 80203 | (303) 731-8770
ColoradoORPC.org
• Attends committee meetings and collaborates with other child welfare stakeholders on matters
impacting the ORPC’s broader policy goals.
• Uses his or her judgment and analytical problem-solving and communications skills to identify potential
solutions to legal and other problems.
• Helps the ORPC conduct an annual attorney application review and evaluation of ORPC contractors.
• Supports the other ORPC staff with projects and tasks.
• Occasional travel across the state of Colorado and some out of state travel may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING FACTORS
Preference will be given to applicants with both private practice and government agency experience. The
following are additional important qualifications: expertise in dependency law and case strategy, significant
respondent parents’ representation training and knowledge, expertise in the Americans with Disability Act, and
a passion for the advocacy of parents with disabilities. This position reports directly to the ORPC Deputy
Director.
QUALIFICATIONS
This job requires that the applicant be an attorney who is licensed to practice law in Colorado or who can be
licensed within six months. Must have experience in family defense, child welfare law, disability advocacy, or a
related defense field. Preference will be given to applicants who have a working knowledge of the Colorado
Children's Code, Juvenile Rules of Procedure, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Must have excellent
communication skills.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the above essential functions
satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the physical and environmental conditions
required of the employee on the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Environment:
This position is subject to many interruptions and may require handling multiple calls, inquiries, and job
priorities at once. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
EEO/AA/ADA EMPLOYER
NOTICE! Each person employed must present identity and employment eligibility verification.
NOTICE! Employees hired after March 1, 1988, must be on the payroll direct deposit program.
NOTICE! All prospective employees of the Colorado Judicial Branch are subject to background investigation prior
to hiring.
NOTICE! Employees will be required to attest to and verify that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Upon
hire, new employees will have three (3) business days to provide attestation to their status with proof of
vaccination. Note: Fully vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-does series of the COVID-
19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete the online application at the link below. Please direct application questions to Jena Fleiner, ORPC
Office Manager, at admin@coloradoorpc.org. Submit a cover letter detailing qualifications and experience for
this position, a resume, and a list of three professional references by 5 p.m. on August 18, 2022, by filling out
the application at the following link:
https://fs7.formsite.com/ORPCColorado/form32/form_login.html
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