Mitigation Specialist - MICA (Manhattan) - New York, NY

The Legal Aid Society has two open positions for a Mitigation Specialist in its Manhattan office to provide client services. These two Mitigation Specialist positions will work closely with the MICA Project attorney as well as the Mental Health attorney to provide comprehensive services to clients who are primarily diagnosed with mental health and substance use disorders. While working closely with criminal defense attorneys specializing in mental health law, the Mitigation Specialist is responsible for providing assessment, treatment planning, referrals, case management, and in-court advocacy for clients facing 730 exams; developing dispositional and re-entry plans for clients being released from state mental health facilities; establishing and participating in collaborative alliances with various institutional, judicial and governmental entities; and providing transitional and crisis counseling to clients.

As part of the legal team, the Mitigation Specialist also helps clients navigate through legal and social service systems and create case plans to address their identified needs. Additional responsibilities include treatment and reentry planning for clients who are incarcerated; oral and written advocacy in and out of court; conductinginformational and training seminars; writing persuasive mitigation reports; serve as a consultant to attorneys and social workers; supervising social work interns; providing crisis counseling and intervention to clients. The Mitigation Specialist is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with treatment providers, government entities, and other stakeholders; and maintaining knowledge of current trends and best practices in areas of mental health and substance use.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interview and assess clients within the court system, performing a thorough bio-psycho-social assessment. During this process, crisis intervention, brief treatment, or short-term counseling may also be performed
• Identify and interview collateral sources of Collateral interviews are done with family members, friends,teachers, social workers, community members, and others connected to the client
• Request, review, and analyze life history records (i.e., school, medical, psychiatric) to document specific arguments within written reports as well as analyzing expert reports
• Develop casework plans in conjunction with the MICA, 730, and staff attorneys to develop alternative sentencing plans, provide advocacy in the courtroom
• Assess a client's readiness for treatment, make referrals to supportive housing services (2010 E housing applications), mental health counseling, medication management services, educational and vocational programs, and any other supports to maintain stability in the community
• Testify in court
• Working with outsides agencies (OPWDD, ACT teams) to assist in client's restorative care
• Accompanying MICA/ 730 attorney to Hospital Arraignments to provide support for client
• Conduct training for LAS staff, social work interns, treatment providers, and criminal justice personnel
• Participate in the development and ongoing practice of specialty court parts
• Act as an expert social work consultant to the stakeholders in the criminal justice system and community providers regarding court advocacy, law reform, and re-entry

• An MSW degree and New York State (NYS) certification in social work (LMSW or LCSW) required. Proof of NYS Social Work License must be provided before final decision of employment

• Strong diagnostic skills with a background emphasis in working with clients with the following special needs: MICA, physical illnesses and disabilities, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and developmental delays, and histories of substance abuse
• Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys and Correctional Personnel
• Ability to negotiate with community-based treatment centers
• Ability to write persuasively
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to work within a team model

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $81,195 - $120,690

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.

Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice.To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover Letter
• Resume