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Senior Counsel for Family Justice and PolicyPOSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Senior Counsel for Family Justice and PolicyABOUT MOTHER’S OUTREACH NETWORK

Mother’s Outreach Network, Inc., (MON) based in Washington DC, is a non-profit, tax-exempt, racial justice and antipoverty advocacy organization that pursues the inclusion and empowerment of Black mothers in the struggle for family preservation by transforming government income and child welfare laws, policies, and practices from punitive to empowering. MON uses movement-lawyering strategies that will build parents’ power to transform systems and that will aid in harm reduction against impacted constituents. MON does so through three primary programs:

• The legal program, which provides representation, advice, and referrals for mothers who are facing adverse administrative decisions, with a focus on matters before the DC Child and Family Services Agency, that negatively impact family preservation and economic security;
• The advocacy program, which seeks to transform income and child welfare/family regulation system policy at the local and federal level; and
• The community engagement program, which includes outreach events, know-your-rights workshops in law and civic activism, as well as community-driven research and mutual-aid.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Senior Counsel for Family Justice and Policy will help lead the organization’s D.C.-based legal and policy advocacy to end family separation and expand parent defense capacity in the District of Columbia.

This role combines deep expertise in family and child welfare law with a passion for systemic transformation. The Senior Counsel will drive efforts to transform the District’s family regulation (“child welfare”) system—moving from one rooted in surveillance and punishment to one grounded in support, equity, and family unity.

The Senior Counsel will shape legislation, engage with the D.C. Council, work closely with stakeholders across the legal services community, mentor staff attorneys, and collaborate with impacted parents, community partners, and defense providers to advance policies that keep families together and strengthen the right to high-quality parent representation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIESPolicy and Systems Advocacy (50%)

• Lead the organization’s advocacy to end unnecessary family separation and promote family preservation and integrity across the District.
• Develop and advance legislative and administrative reforms before the D.C. Council, Mayor’s Office, and CFSA that expand parent defense infrastructure and strengthen due process protections in child welfare cases.
• Draft, analyze, and monitor D.C. legislation, regulations, and court rules related to family defense, reunification, and child welfare practice.
• Develop policy briefs, model legislation, and reports that expose the harms of family policing and propose community-based alternatives.
• Testify before the D.C. Council and participate in working groups, coalitions, and advisory committees focused on child welfare and family justice reform.
• Advocate for increased public investment in parent representation and interdisciplinary family defense teams in D.C. Superior Court
• Collaborate with impacted parents and parent defense practitioners to co-create reform proposals that reflect lived experience and practical needs.

Legal Strategy and Support (20%)

• Conduct legal and policy research on D.C. child welfare law, CFSA practices, and parent defense systems.
• Provide legal and technical support to family defense attorneys and community advocates navigating systemic challenges.
• Identify opportunities for systemic advocacy or strategic litigation, including amicus briefs and administrative appeals, to protect parental rights and prevent family separation.
• Analyze data and case trends to inform policy recommendations and advocacy campaigns.

Mentorship and Supervision (15%)

• Supervise and mentor staff attorneys and legal fellows working on family defense and policy initiatives.
• Support staff in developing expertise in D.C. family and child welfare law, legislative advocacy, and liberatory frameworks.
• Provide ongoing feedback and professional development to ensure high-quality, community-centered advocacy.
• Foster a supportive, collaborative, and justice-oriented team culture that prioritizes the well-being of staff and clients.

Coalition and Community Engagement (10%)

• Serve as a core representative in coalitions, task forces, and advocacy networks advancing family justice in D.C.
• Build and maintain partnerships with parent-led organizations, grassroots groups, and legal providers to strengthen collective advocacy.
• Collaborate with the broader family defense and family policing reform movement to align strategies and share resources.

Public Education and Communications (5%)

• Work with communications staff to develop accessible public education materials—including policy explainers, op-eds, and reports—on family separation and parent defense reform.
• Conduct trainings, webinars, and community events to raise awareness about D.C.’s family regulation system and promote legislative solutions.

QUALIFICATIONSRequired:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the D.C. Bar (or eligibility for prompt admission under D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 49).
• At least 7 years of legal experience, with substantial background in family defense, child welfare, or related family law practice.
• Demonstrated commitment to ending family separation and advancing racial and economic justice for D.C. families.
• Experience with legislative or policy advocacy, particularly at the D.C. Council or in comparable local government settings.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Proven ability to mentor and supervise attorneys or legal staff.
• Strong interpersonal and coalition-building skills, including experience collaborating with impacted communities.

Preferred:

• Experience with the D.C. family regulation system, including CFSA, D.C. Superior Court’s Family Court, and/or the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
• Prior work with or within parent defense offices, legal service providers, or family advocacy coalitions.
• Familiarity with D.C. legislative and budget processes and experience securing public investments in legal services or family support.
• Lived experience or close connection to the child welfare/family policing system.
• Fluency in a language other than English a plus

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time salaried position, and the salary range is $120,000 to $125,000 per year, commensurate with experience. A health, dental and vision benefits package is provided: health insurance is covered by 100% for the employee and available to dependents. All federal holidays and all holidays observed by the District of Columbia are observed, as well as the week between Christmas and New Year. Qualified attorneys may be eligible for up to $12,000 per year of loan repayment assistance.

Mother’s Outreach Network is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and insist on equity and inclusion in our work environment and in the world. If you have the passion for our mission and have the skill sets to help us fulfill this mission, we welcome you as you are.

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