Legal Services Specialist

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office (CAO) is seeking a Legal Services Specialist to provide culturally specific services and assistance to victims of all felony level, juvenile misdemeanor, and domestic violence cases in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. This position will provide case status updates, support, and referrals for crime victims as their cases move through the criminal justice process.

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit employee referral program.

Find us here at upcoming career fairs!

Location and hours:

• Work on homicide, domestic violence, assault, property, and other case types. 
• Develop and participate in community engagement, outreach, and education efforts, with emphasis on racial disparity reduction.
• Assess client needs and develop appropriate service and safety plans with clients. 
• Review case files and interview crime victims and witnesses. 
• Consult with prosecuting attorneys and advocate and relay victim perspectives and wishes to ensure compliance with office policy and victims' rights. 
• Provide information to victims, witnesses, and families regarding the legal system and victims' rights. 
• Prepare victims and vulnerable witnesses to participate in the court process and prepare victim impact statements; attend court hearings with victims. 
• Dually serve as advocate and liaison between the CAO, victims, and outside agencies. 
• Provide follow up services to victims and families including short-term counseling, crisis intervention, and ongoing support; assist victims in the completion of documentation and paperwork for financial assistance including reparations and restitutions; assist clients in pursuing legal remedies through the docketing or conciliation court process; assist victims in return of property taken as evidence. 
• Prepare and maintain case records, reports, correspondence, and memorandums.
• Gather and document statistical data on victim demographics.
• Assist victims in applying for Orders for Protection. 

• One of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree in psychology, forensic psychology, social work, sociology, behavioral health or criminal justice and one year of related experience and one year or more of experience performing duties related to the classification.
  • 27 semester (40 quarter) credits in the psychology, forensic psychology, social work, sociology, behavioral health or criminal justice and three years of related experience

• Experience:
  • Advocating for individuals or a population.
  • Working with victims of crime, the justice system, including juvenile and adult court, and community resources.
  • Working with oppressed, underserved, or racially discriminated against communities.
  • Promoting the interests of victims with attorneys, criminal justice personnel, and community agencies, while applying policies, rules, and procedures.
  • Utilizing existing community and/or system resources available to crime victims and/or individuals impacted by crime.
  • Providing legal advocacy services to clients from diverse cultural and/or socioeconomic backgrounds and/or communities impacted by poverty, racism, gang violence and/or distrust of police and governmental agencies.
  • Working and/or volunteering with individuals and/or families impacted by trauma.
  • Providing victims and/or witnesses of crimes counseling, referrals advocacy and/or trial preparation services.
• Knowledge of:
  • Dynamics of victimization and the impact of traumatic incidents, such as death, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, incest, and other crimes. 
  • The criminal justice system. 
  • Counseling techniques. 
  • Available system and community resources.
  • An understanding of institutional and systemic racism, its impact on communities and individuals, and a desire to eliminate racial disparities and address the trauma caused by institutional and systemic racism.
• Ability to:
  • Display cultural competence when working with victims from all cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.
  • Provide trauma informed services. 
  • Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with victims, witnesses, families, criminal justice professionals, community agencies, and the public.

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Talent Acquisition division
Hennepin County Human Resources department
Submit a request at hennepin.us/ask-hr or call 612-348-7855