Looking to make a difference! Become a Defender! 

The Adult Social Service Unit supports, assists and advocates for Defender clients in a multitude of ways. The Social Worker/Social Services Advocate position is a part of the social service team that works collaboratively with attorneys across all Units to provide comprehensive and holistic legal representation to our clients within the criminal justice system. Responsibilities include preparing in-depth, comprehensive mitigation reports of the life histories of clients based upon documentation and interviews. In addition, our Social Workers/Social Service Advocates focus on connecting clients with services at the front-end of the criminal justice system by developing individualized, community-based treatment plans to focus on a person’s underlying needs and challenges. This position assists adult clients of the Defender Association to identify and assertively engage the underlying issues which may have contributed to their current legal situation; provides detailed recommendations/progress reports to attorneys and connects our clients to needed services and supports. This position serves as an active partner in the Defender Association’s efforts to obtain the most favorable legal outcome for our clients which may include pre-trial/sentencing mitigation reports, court-approved alternatives to incarceration, and linkages to effective community-based services. 

What You’ll Do

• Manage a caseload of 30-50 clients who are defendants in pending criminal litigations
• Ability to take responsibility for a caseload of clients with varying needs and case-related deadlines, ensuring timely action and intervention
• The Social Service Advocate will work as part of the defense team and assist defense counsel and the client throughout all phases of the criminal prosecution
• Ability to write detailed and persuasive reports that include mitigation as part of the pre-pleading and post-conviction phase of the client’s case
• Gather all documentation relevant to the defense or mitigation of the client’s case including education, employment, medical, treatment, psychological, military, prison, and other information
• Responsible for preparing in-depth, comprehensive reports of the life histories of clients
• Conduct extensive interviews of the client and their families to get a full picture of the client for the purpose of plea bargaining, trial defense and preparation and sentencing advocacy
• Must have ability to work as part of the defense team in a client-centered practice and maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained while working on the case
• Prepare detailed client social summaries, re-entry plans, treatment plans, and mitigation memorandums/reports to identify and humanize the client’s life circumstances in a manner to have a meaningful impact on the client’s legal case
• Identify community resources conducive to a client’s needs, refer clients, advocate for their connection to services, and provide follow up services. 
• Assist clients, when necessary, with securing their medical assistance and other insurance funding to link them to treatments and maintain an effective contact log for follow-up and verification
• Prepare written reports/memoranda of client communications, referrals and work product to be forwarded to and made a part of the legal file, and/or discussed with the assigned attorney
• Establish effective communication with assigned Assistant Defenders to discuss the client’s needs, social services referrals, treatment recommendations, life, and mitigation histories, with attorneys throughout the court process, from case assignment through final disposition 
• Provide support, as needed, for Assistant Defenders by appearing in court to provide testimony and social work interventions
• Assist with the development of community resource information and sharing same with unit colleagues and Defender Association staff
• Cultivate relationships with community partners and stakeholders to foster increased alternatives for re-entry and treatment options.
• Attend and participate in department programs and staff meetings
• Maintain statistical tracking of client outcomes and work activities
• Other duties as assigned

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree is required. B.S.W. or M.S.W., is preferred.
• Minimum of 2-years of employment experience in a social worker or social services position, preferred
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, preferred
• Experience or interest in serving racially and socioeconomically- oppressed clients and communities
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to quicky establish client rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds during interviews
• Very good organizational skills and be proficient in multi-tasking
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be able to travel to various courthouses, community placements and community settings. May have to travel to local and non-local prisons on occasion. 

Benefits & Perks

• Generous and rich benefits plan with many employer paid benefits
• Substantial paid time off- over 35 paid time off days and all federal holidays off
• Six weeks of paid parental leave
• Participation in Septa Free All Access card
• 403 (b) Employer Match
• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - eligible employer.
• Meaningful Work and growth
• Wellness benefits

Who is the Defender Association? 

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers. The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Come join our team! For more information follow us @PhillyDefenders (Twitter, IG, Tiktok) and on LinkedIn. 

The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.