· Home · MQ's · Specs Index · Examination Code: R ·
9508
CHILD ADVOCATE ATTORNEY
Nature of Work
Under administrative direction, represents children, unless
otherwise provided, in establishing paternity, establishing child
support orders, enforcing support orders, proceeding in Uniform
Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (URESA) cases, making
recommendations regarding child support or spousal support,
enforcing spousal support obligations, and related matters
including, but not limited to, providing informational pamphlets
to the public, instituting collection proceedings, and complying
with state and federal statutory and regulatory requirements,
Child Advocate Office policy, and audit requirements.
Responsible for applying federal and state law mandates and
federal code of regulations, and state policies and procedures in
the provision of equal services to applicants for services of the
Child Advocate Office. Responsible for coordination of all
duties to be performed by administrative support staff, and for
maintaining regional statistical records necessary to ensure
federal and state reporting requirements of the IV-D program are
met. Responsible for ensuring that federal audit requirements
are met through performance standards and compliance to the
federal requirements. Directly supervises and assumes all
responsibility for all work and all personnel of the regional
office, and is responsible for implementing a state-administered
cost-effective regional Child Advocate Office, and for initiating
measures to ensure the program operates in an effective and
efficient manner. Supports the child advocate program, and will
publicize the program's services and promote the Child Advocate
Office throughout the communities to which assigned by the State
Office. May be temporarily assigned from one geographical area
to another geographical area. Performs related work as required.
Examples of Work
Directly supervises and assumes responsibility for all work
and all personnel in the regional offices to which assigned.
Trains, directs, coordinates and evaluates work of child
advocate regional office staff.
Provides legal representation to children seeking to establish
paternity, and to establish, enforce and collect family
support obligations.
Briefs legal issues as they arise in on-going cases.
Provides supervision and training on all matters of law and
legal ethics arising in the local office.
Interprets court opinions, statutes, and policy and provides
information to administrative personnel and others on
appropriate legal recourse and remedies.
Consults and advises administrative personnel on
administrative rules, regulations and policies, and provides
supervision as may be required.
Ensures that all applications for services of the Child
Advocate Office program are processed by staff in accordance
with agency policy, federal regulation, and applicable court
orders.
Ensures compliance with federal and state regulatory and
statutory requirements so as to meet the performance
standard audit requirements, and to supply through
conferences and reports, such information and documentation
as may be necessary or desirable for the management of the
program and audit review.
Interprets federal and state regulations and applies policy
and procedures as defined by the Child Advocate Office.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of statutes, court opinions, and Attorney General
opinions, and federal and state laws and policies, generally
related to child support and domestic relations.
Knowledge of administrative law.
Knowledge of debt collection procedures/practices.
Skill in the preparation and presentation of petitions for
child support and the initiation of contempt proceedings,
and skill in the application of creditors' remedies for
collections and enforcement of family support obligations.
Ability to analyze, appraise and organize facts and present
such materials in a clear and logical form for oral and
written preparation.
Ability to communicate effectively with others.
Ability to perform complex legal work in the drafting of legal
instruments and opinions.
Ability to supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate
personnel.
Minimum Qualifications
[Top]
Training:
Admission to practice law in the State of West
Virginia.
Experience:
Two years of full-time or equivalent part-time
paid experience as an attorney.
Substitution:
Full-time or equivalent part-time paid
professional employment with the Child Advocate Office,
(including experience as a Child Advocate Office Legal
Assistant) or with a child support agency for another state
may substitute for the required experience on a year-for
year basis.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Availability of a car for continuous use
is a specific requirement of employment.
Established: 8/20/92
Effective:
9/15/92