General Summary:
Responsible for assisting clients with navigation of the legal and judicial system. The Legal Advocate’s direct service responsibilities include providing support, information, advocacy, and court accompaniment to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Legal Advocate is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice.
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: $44,000
Essential Functions:
General Duties:
- Provides trauma-informed care practices into service provision for all clients.
- Attend daily Domestic Violence charging conferences, at the District Attorney’s office.
- Assist clients with safety planning, identifying options, and problem solving with a priority on completing and filing paperwork for obtaining a restraining order and providing service representation at injunction hearings.
- Completes client intakes and maintains accurate program paperwork and documentation in paper files and within Osnium according to agency procedures and timelines.
- Provides support answering FRIENDS, Inc.’s 24/7 crisis line providing support and resources.
- Attend Forensic Interviews when requested by the CAC.
- Attends Sexual Assault Charging Conferences in conjunction with SA Advocate (rotate as able)
- Maintain positive relationships with community partners (District Attorney, Clerk of Courts, and Judiciary).
- Maintain working knowledge of the legal system, and be able to explain to clients in a trauma informed way their options and resources.
- Provides crisis intervention, advocacy, and case management to community domestic violence and sexual assault clients.
- Responds to requests for the Safe At Home Program.
- Assist with reporting requirements, including tracking and gathering program statistics, providing success stories, and written summaries related to the programs/clients.
- Attend committee meetings, both internal and external, as requested.
- Attend and participate in all staff meetings, coordinator meetings, shelter meetings, and weekly one-one ones with Program Director.
- Supports and attends all FRIENDS, Inc. special events and functions including internal committees.
- Represents FRIENDS, Inc. in a positive manner.
- Other duties as assigned.
Additional Duties Specific to Sexual Violence:
- Participates in a rotation of daytime coverage for the SANE program and CAC (Child Advocacy Center) calls, along with other agency staff.
- Participates in a rotation of after-hours coverage for the SANE program, along with other agency staff.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
| KPI | EVIDENCE OF ACHIEVEMENT |
| Maintain accurate and complete files on all clients. | All program paperwork/OSI will be in file, service plan will be written and updated, ROI’s and other documentation will be in place, on time. |
| Rotate coverage of SANE and CAC duties with other staff. | Calendars of rotation schedules, participation. |
| Provide advocacy, crisis counseling and case management to clients in the areas of trauma, housing, employment and all other case plan goals. | Meeting with shelter clients at least once weekly (community clients as needed), updated service plans, OSI case notes |
| Maintain updated knowledge of legal information | Participate in ongoing training opportunities and implement knowledge into daily work. |
| Maintain and build community partnerships to support clients with legal concerns. | Maintain consistent communication with established partners and develop new relationships. |
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
| Education/Certification | Required | Preferred |
| Bachelor’s Degree in social work, criminal justice, or related field – will consider commensurate combination of education and experience | X | |
| Valid Driver’s License + Proof of Insurance | X | |
| Basic Computer | X | |
| Experience | Required | Preferred |
| 2 to 5 years of experience working with domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims | X | |
| Experience with case management | X | |
| Excellent communication skills; cultural competence and the ability to interact with diverse populations. | X | |
| Strong self-motivation and organizational skills to manage a variety of diversified tasks in a timely manner. | X | |
| Ability to work flexible hours to meet client needs. | X | |
| Bi-lingual, Spanish | X |
Interested in applying for the Legal Advocate position? Apply Now!