CYS Attorney 3

DESCRIPTION

OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF JOB
The Children and Youth Agency Staff Attorney represents the Agency on certain Agency legal
matters assigned by the Agency Administrator or the Administrator’s designee.
The Staff Attorney represents the Agency before the Dauphin County Juvenile Court during
review hearings, dependency hearings, emergency shelter care hearings, safety hearings,
dispositional review hearings, and permanency review hearings. Additionally, the Staff
Attorney represents the Agency in effectuating inter-county transfers, represents the Agency in
Dauphin County Orphans’ Court for cases of involuntary termination of parental rights and
associated appeals, and represents the Agency in abuse appeals and foster care appeals at
the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.
 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB

1. Represents the Agency and fully prepares Agency staff for all juvenile Court matters as
assigned by the Agency Administrator or the Administrator’s designee.
2. Advises the Agency about Agency statutory or regulatory compliance changes.
3. Reports all incidents of potential liability to the Agency Administrator or the Administrator’s
designee, and the County Solicitor’s Office immediately.
4. Performs those assignments that may be assigned by the Dauphin County Solicitor.
5. Performs those assignments that may be assigned by the Human Services Solicitor.
6. Reports to the Dauphin County Solicitor’s Office on all material matters in such manner
and upon such schedule, as the Dauphin County Solicitor shall from time to time direct.
7. Represents the Agency by reviewing document production requests directed at the
Agency and files objections or motions to quash where appropriate and coordinates all
open records law requests with the Dauphin County Solicitor’s Office and the designated
Dauphin County Open Records Officer.
8. Responds promptly to all email from agency staff, the Agency Administrator and the other
attorneys.
9. Supervises all legal staff, including clerical, county paralegals, paralegals contracted
through SWAN Voce, court related Program Specialist, and all CYS Agency Assistant
Staff Attorneys.
10. Reviews and maintains data with the CPCMS court management data system and assists
the Dauphin County Court Administrator to ensure Juvenile Court data is accurate on an
annual and bi-annual basis.
11. Assists the Dauphin County Court Administrator to ensure sufficient legal representation
is available and maintained for Dependency Juvenile Court.
12. Collaborates with the Court Related Program Specialist, CYS Agency Administrator and
the Juvenile Court Judge for four Local Roundtable Meetings to occur each year.
13. Administers, plans and collaborates with the Juvenile Court Judge and the Court Related
Program Specialist for four Hearing Examiner meetings, to include all Dependency
Juvenile Court Attorneys, to occur each year.
14. Attends and participates in the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators Solicitor
Group.
15. Reviews and provides comments on behalf of Dauphin County Social Services for
Children in Youth to proposed Juvenile Court Rules.
16. Creates and provides regular legal trainings for all Agency staff.

OTHER DUTIES OF JOB
1. Ensures availability for consultation, including after-hours, by telephone, if needed.
2. Prepares regular legal reports to be provided to the Agency Administrator, President
Judge, Juvenile Court Judge, Juvenile Court Administrator, County Commissioners,
Human Services Director, County Solicitor, and Human Services Solicitor.
3. Retains Agency cases of heightened importance to assure Dauphin County of all
aspects of the legal representation.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Supervision and evaluation are conducted through periodic meetings and reviews of work results
by the CYS Agency Administrator.

SUPERVISION GIVEN
The CYS Agency Staff Attorney provides supervision for county paralegal staff, paralegal staff
pursuant to the MOU between Dauphin County and SWAN Voce; and all Assistant Staff Attorneys, and monitors, and assigns cases, and conducts Employee Performance Evaluations for everyone under the direct supervision. 

WORKING CONDITIONS
1. Works indoors in office area with adequate lighting and ventilation, but subject to
fluctuations in temperatures.
2. Average indoor exposure to dust/dirt.
3. Works in conditions of potential outbursts or disruptive behavior of clients.
4. Drives agency and personal vehicles from time to time. Must possess a valid driver
license.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Must possess ability to record, convey and present information, explain procedures and
follow instructions.
2. Must be able to sit for long periods throughout the workday, with intermittent periods of
standing, walking, bending, twisting and reaching necessary to carry out duties of job.
3. Sedentary work with occasional lifting/carrying of objects with a maximum weight of ten
pounds.
4. Must be able to cope with the physical and mental stress of the position.
5. Must be able to move frequently throughout the workday as needed to carry out essential
job duties.
6. Must be able to pay close attention to details and concentrate on work.

QUALIFICATIONS

A. EDUCATION/TRAINING
Graduation from an approved school of law and certificate of admission to the Bar of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; or preparatory steps to become a member thereof.
Continued employment is conditional upon the obtaining of such certificate of admission.
B. WORK EXPERIENCE
Prior experience with dependency, delinquency, and other Juvenile Court matters
preferred with a minimum of three years of courtroom experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
1. Knowledge of the application of legal principles to individual cases or problems.
2. Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations affecting the administration of the
programs to which assigned.
3. Knowledge of court procedures and rules of evidence.
4. Ability to understand and interpret constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative
regulations, and precedents.
5. Ability to analyze facts, evidence, and precedents and arrive at logical interpretations.
6. Ability to set forth findings of facts and decisions in written forms.
7. Ability to prepare legal documents and records.
8. A minimum of five years of experience in a courtroom setting.