Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy - PT Custody Advocacy Program Attorney and Coordinator

Custody Advocacy Program

Staff Attorney and Coordinator Part-Time (Up to 25 hours/week)

WHO WE ARE:Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, a nonprot provider of civil legal assistance to low-income people in the Charlotte region, seeks a part-time Custody Advocacy Program Staff Attorney and Coordinator. More information about the Advocacy Center can be found on our website: www.CharlotteLegalAdvocacy.org.

POSITION OVERVIEW:The Custody Advocacy Program Staff Attorney and Coordinator will support the Custody Advocacy Program (CAP), designed to assist children involved in high conflict custody and visitation disputes. The Custody Advocacy Program provides structured, child-centered advocacy in complex custody cases. The need for coordinated volunteer support has become increasingly urgent, particularly as more parents navigate custody disputes without representation. This role does not generally involve direct representation in court.

RESPONSIBILITIES:Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement

• Assist in recruiting and maintaining a roster of volunteer attorneys and custody advocates.
• Support outreach efforts to law firms, solo practitioners and community partners.

Training & Education

• Help develop and deliver training for volunteer attorneys and custody advocates.
• Support updates to training materials, including trauma-informed and best-interest advocacy practice.

Volunteer Support & Case Consultation

• Provide guidance and technical assistance to volunteer attorneys handling high-conflict custody cases.
• Assist volunteers in navigating procedural and evidentiary issues (e.g. records, subpoenas, court processes).

Program Coordination

• Help coordinate case referral and assignments in collaboration with the Family Court.
• Support development of workflows, forms and internal processes.

Program Development

• Contribute to rebuilding program infrastructure, including policies, templates and tracking systems.
• Assist with collecting and organizing data related to program outcomes and volunteer engagement.

Other Duties

• Perform other tasks as assigned by Chief Legal Officer or Chief Executive Officer.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

Required

• D. and active license to practice law in North Carolina
• Demonstrated interest in family law, child advocacy, or public interest law
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with volunteers, court personnel, and community partners
• Administrative self-sufficiency, including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Experience and Professional Background

• Experience in family law, including custody matters
• Experience working with pro bono attorneys or volunteers
• Prior litigation experience

Skills and Core Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly in high stakes or time-sensitive situations
• Must possess excellent communication skills and expertise in dealing with adults and children from diverse backgrounds who are in crisis situations
• Comfort working in fast-paced environments and navigating ambiguity with steadiness and sound judgment
• Must conduct oneself with the highest integrity in all interactions, with a particular focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and communicate effectively with diverse audiences
• A demonstrated passion for serving low-income clients and advancing social justice
• Strong alignment with the mission and values of the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
• Preference will be given to applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to child advocacy; experience in family law and/or previous volunteer experience with CAP; a desire to serve the community; and familiarity in approaching situations through a trauma-informed and race-equity lens.

WORK SCHEDULE:

• Part-time position (up to 25 hours per week)
• Hybrid work schedule with some in-office presence and occasional court-related coordination

SALARY:

This position is a part-time position, hourly, exempt position. The hourly rate begins at $30.00/hour and may vary depending upon experience and skills.

REPORTS TO:The Managing Attorney of the Pro Bono Unit.

BENEFITS:

This position is not eligible for health or other insurance benefits. Part-time employees are eligible for paid holidays and pro-rated paid time off.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, it is the policy of the Advocacy Center to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please reach out to careers@charlottelegaladvocacy.org.

TO APPLY:

Applicants should send a resume and a detailed letter explaining your interest and qualifications for this role and organization, describe qualifications for this program, experience working with low-income individuals and survivors of trauma, and other relevant information. Include the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three (3) references. Please ensure that all documents are uploaded into the applicant tracking system. If you have a problem uploading all documents, please email

jrobinson@ascendnps.org

DEADLINE:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a preference for applications received by May 8.