Description
KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR LAARK:
LEGAL ADVICE AND REFERRAL FOR KINSHIP CARE
Mission
The King County Bar Association promotes and supports a diverse and collegial membership; works with the judiciary to achieve excellence, equity, and accessibility in the administration of justice; and benefits the community through public service and engagement in public policy.
Legal Advice and Referral for Kinship Care (LAARK) Mission
The mission of LAARK is to provide guidance and legal advice by phone to kinship caregivers statewide on matters that relate to their ability to meet physical, mental, social, educational, and other needs of children and youth in their care. Kinship caregivers are relatives, such as grandparents, who are caring for children when their parents are unable to do so, and who encounter legal issues when providing this care. Topics include guardianship, the child welfare system, and other issues relating to child custody. The LAARK team currently consists of two full-time attorneys and two legal assistants, and is supervised by the statewide kinship care legal aid coordinator.
Position
The Legal Assistant is responsible for: (a) tracking and documenting voice mail messages left on the LAARK phone line; (b) calling clients to screen for LAARK program eligibility and creating an electronic case file in Legal Server; (c) mailing publications and other materials to clients; (d) assisting with maintaining electronic legal files in Legal Server; (e) assisting with client case tracking and follow up; and (f) other administrative tasks. Applicants must reside in the state of Washington. The position is hybrid, with two days per week in the Seattle office required. Reports to the statewide kinship care legal aid coordinator and works under the supervision of two staff attorneys.
Applicants with lived or professional experience in kinship care are encouraged to apply even if you feel like you do not have all of the qualifications listed below.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Advocacy and Phone Line Operations:
- Screen and return calls/emails, identify clients with urgent issues, and assign callers to attorneys;
- Assist clients with accessing community resources and supportive services;
- Create client files in electronic case management system, Legal Server;
- Assemble court filings and other legal materials;
- Draft court pleadings under the supervision of attorneys;
- Assist clients in tracking their case schedules and deadlines;
- Assist attorneys in generating reports from Legal Server for reporting purposes; and
- Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
- Experience using computer software to complete projects and tasks;
- Proficiency with technology including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook;
- Attention to detail;
- Ability to work with groups and teams;
- Comfort communicating with clients in distress;
- Comfort with navigating changes as the team grows;
- Experience working with vulnerable populations;
- Ability to track deadlines;
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people;
- Demonstrated understanding of the impact of race, bias, discrimination, and differential treatment of communities disproportionately composed of Black, Indigenous, and people of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, limited English speaking persons, and others who have been historically marginalized in the child welfare system and in the law and justice system;
- Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines;
- Creative problem solving;
Recommended (But Not Required) Qualifications:
- Familiarity with court filings and preparing legal paperwork;
- Familiarity with Legal Server and client management systems;
About KCBA
Founded in 1886, KCBA is a membership legal organization with over 4700 attorney members, 80 staff members, and an annual budget of over $10,000,000. As a unionized workplace and an equal opportunity employer, KCBA is committed to upholding an equity and justice-based organizational environment for the public, the client communities it serves, its members, its Boards, its staff, and its volunteers. This means the organization actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork, and productivity among people who are diverse in work background; lived and professional experience; immigration status and citizenship; education; race and ethnicity; national origin; sexual orientation; age; indigenous group membership; religious preference; marital status; sensory, mental, and physical abilities; social class; gender identity; veteran status, as well as other differences relevant to equity and justice. The resulting diversity is both a source of organizational strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness.
Please note, one of KCBA’s programs supports attorneys working with parents and guardians of at-risk children. As a result, certain convictions would make an applicant ineligible.
POSITION DETAILS
This is a non-exempt 40 hour per week position. Exact work hours between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. are to be determined based on the candidate’s schedule and LAARK’s needs; candidates will be asked during the interview process about their regular hours of availability. Salary range is $65,577 to $68,622 annually, based on experience. Benefits include employer-paid healthcare, 401k plan with automatic employer contribution, subsidized transit pass, flexible spending account, professional development opportunities, paid vacation and sick leave and more.
TO APPLY
Priority will be given to those who apply by 5:00 p.m. July 20, 2026 via email to [email protected]. Make “LAARK Legal Assistant” your subject line and send a resume, three references, and a letter of interest that addresses this question: How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to anti-racism and equity internally and externally?
