Legal Services Advocate

This position will support the legal needs of immigrants, including those who are victims of crime and violence.

The Legal Services Advocate is a full-time, nonexempt position, reporting to the Director of Legal Services (DLS). Essential duties include case management, legal document preparation, court accompaniment, consult and coordination with department attorney(s), crisis intervention, and other legal advocacy. This person oversees client cases, conducts intakes, provides trainings, and technical assistance in all aspects of the position. The person in this role serves as a department legal advocate, including providing internal and external referrals. 

The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of local community resources, outstanding written and communication skills, experience working with diverse populations (particularly immigrant and LGBTQ+ individuals, and survivors of violence), and excellent interpersonal skills. Additionally, this individual should have some knowledge of aggressor/survivor differentiation techniques and methods. The Legal Services Advocate should be highly skilled, including exceptional attention to detail, strong legal research and writing skills, effective time management, strong understanding of confidentiality and trauma-informed approaches, ability to manage legal deadlines, and strong organizational skills.

Benefits:

• Free Medical, Dental & Vision
• 13 Paid Holidays + PTO
• 403 (B) retirement match
• Life Insurance, EAP
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• Continued workforce development & training
• Succession plans & growth within 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience          

• Strong ability to adapt, problem-solve, and remain flexible in a fast-paced environment.
• At least 2 years of experience working with diverse, underserved communities.
• At least 2 years of experience working in a legal setting and/or with victims/survivors of violence.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with an eye for detail.
• Strong computer skills including the entire Microsoft Office suite and Adobe.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Evening and weekend availability is required.
• Ability to pass FBI background check.
• Substantial work in the field; access to reliable transportation and the ability to be insured. 

Preferred Experience:

• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in legal or social services.
• 65-hour California Sexual Assault Counselor Certification or openness to obtaining one.
• 40-hour California Domestic Violence Counselor Certification or openness to obtaining one.
• Bilingual/fluent (read, write, and speak) in English, Spanish.
• Knowledge of anti-violence legal issues, survivor crisis counseling, and case management.
• Prior experience working in a role involving administrative duties.
• Demonstrated history and strong knowledge of batterer/survivor differentiation techniques and methods.
• Demonstrated history and experience working with survivors of sexual assault.

• Provide direct comprehensive legal advocacy and support services, including to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, hate crimes, assault, and other forms of violence; services include but are not limited to, crisis counseling, crisis intervention, case management, court accompaniment, form preparation, and victim safety planning.
• Engage in legal advocacy and liaise with legal system institutional actors where appropriate, including law enforcement, City Prosecutors, District Attorneys, City Attorneys, Victim Witness programs, and other court personnel.
• Assist survivors in obtaining emergency and permanent housing, including domestic violence shelter, legal advocacy, case management, mental health services, and transportation as needed.
• Conduct outreach at targeted community events including resource fairs, anti-violence awareness events, cultural festivals, and other events to ensure visibility and inclusivity.
• Assist in providing legal advocacy at local, statewide, and national stakeholder working groups, coalitions, and boards to ensure visibility and inclusivity.
• Assist in trainings on anti-violence legal advocacy issues for service providers, including attorneys, prosecutors, court personnel, law enforcement, and other anti-violence service providers.
• Maintain client files and report client contacts and outreach activities as required by funder(s), including assisting in programmatic reports.
• Represent St. John’s Community Health at community functions, mixers, conferences, and resource events, as needed.
• Assist in compilation and tracking of client data under state, federal, government and private foundation funding, including providing regular and ongoing assistance to the Director of Legal Services.
• Supports day to day operations of the department, including necessary administrative functions, conducting phone intakes, screenings and assessments, including preliminary aggressor/ survivor differentiation and crisis triage, as needed.
• Coordinates room scheduling, legal clinic scheduling and and/or departments as necessary.
• Manages and keeps filing system current with applicable federal, state, local, agency and funder(s) requirements and protocol.
• Attend all agency, funder, and outside meetings as required.
• Attend all staff meeting, including weekly case conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

St. John’s Community Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer