Legal Advocate - DV/SA/HT

The Legal Advocate assists clients who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, & human trafficking.  This position provides critical support and assistance to survivors navigating the legal system which includes crisis intervention, protective orders, case management, and assistance with outreach and education.

 Folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, and bilingual are encouraged to apply. 

This position will be expected to work Monday - Friday, 8AM to 5PM, with weekends, afternoons, or nights due to community events and needs.

Essential Duties 

Legal Advocacy and Assistance Duties

• Assess clients’ current and long-term needs, including advocacy needs in criminal court, family court and civil court
• Provide client assistance in filing for protective orders and navigate legal processes
• Explain legal options and court procedures to clients
• Plan and Facilitate Weekly Legal Workshops
• Serve as a liaison between the client and community resources or agencies
• Accompany and transports clients as needed to medical and law enforcement appointments to seek help with crime related and significant incident situations
• Provide court support and general information regarding the legal sysem, acts as court escort, and provides information on the status of the client’s case
• Prepare correspondence on behalf of clients to service providers
• Provide legal advocacy services in rural areas of the County as needed
• Mentor clients to write their own correspondence
• Attend Public Policy Meetings and Domestic Violence response team case staffing as needed

Crisis Intervention and Assessment:

• Respond to victims of crime to reduce levels of trauma and provide support during assessments and crisis intervention
• Conduct assessments and intakes to assess client needs
• Provide short-term peer counseling during assessment period
• Facilitate referrals to individuals to appropriate services (shelter, domestic violence and sexual assault response team, counseling, groups, etc.) or community resources for additional assistance and counseling
• Responds to crisis after hour and weekends through the crisis hotline or in person on a rotating on-call basis by participating on the VCC 24-hour Crisis Hotline Back Up Calendar

Case Management:

• Assess clients’ current and long-term needs
• Serve as a liaison between the client and community resources or agencies
• Accompany and transports clients as needed, court appointments, etc.

Community Outreach/Education:

• Assist in development of educational and awareness materials, as time allows.

Additional Responsibilities

• Regularly communicate with staff and community partners to ensure ongoing and effective communication between Programs;
• Complete data-entry of service logs;
• Helps maintain office cleanliness and beautification, maintains office supply inventory and lets PD know ordering needs;
• Attend program and agency staff meetings when requested by Director

 Other Duties

• Other duties as assigned
• Adhere to all Alliance values, standards, policies, and mission/vision statement
• Represent the Alliance in the community in a professional and competent manner

Qualifications and Education Requirements  

Education/Experience:

• High School Diploma/GED; college preferred;
• 1 year social services experience preferred
• Bilingual in Spanish / Hmong preferred

Knowledge of:

• Office Equipment Operation (phone, fax, copier, etc.)
• Computers and Software Programs (Word; Excel; Internet);
• Trauma-Informed Care;
• Current social, economic and health problems and of human behavior and social functioning;

Ability to:

• Be accurate, reliable, punctual, well organized, careful and thorough;
• Communicate effectively orally, electronically and written;
• Work effectively with limited supervision and foster a team atmosphere;
• Prioritize work and exercise good judgment, schedule and manage workload;
• Demonstrate comfort and expertise in operating computers and other technology;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and the general public;
• Analyzing facts and exercising sound judgment in arriving at conclusions;
• Prepare concise reports;
• Adhere to Alliance & VCC mission and values

Physical Requirements:

• Facility to see read and distinguish printed and handwritten documents
• Facility to hear and understand speech at normal room levels, and to hear and understand speech on the telephone
• Facility to constantly use hands and arms to input data into computer and use adding machine
• Ability to move boxes of files from one location to another; physical agility to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, and to bend, stoop, walk and reach overhead
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Must be able to concentrate for long periods of time
• Mental acuity to perform the essential functions of this position in an accurate, neat, timely fashion; to make good judgments and decisions; and to evaluate the results of decisions and judgments

 ​Other Requirements: 

• Must complete finger printing and background check upon hire, at Alliance expense.  Failure to pass fingerprint clearance or background may result in withdrawal of job appointment 
• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and DMV clearance 
• Must have and maintain active auto insurance policy 
• The Alliance highly recommends vaccination against COVID-19.  Staff are not required to be vaccinated but are required to show proof of vaccination upon hire should they have it. 

Valley Crisis Center is a program of Alliance for Community Transformations. 

Alliance for Community Transformations is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition or physical disability. 

Benefits: 12 paid holidays (prorated), 132.96 hours of paid time off per year, Cafeteria Plan with Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and Retirement Benefit Options.

Salary : $18 - $19