Director of Legal Services

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER OF CHESTER COUNTY

Job Title: Director of Legal Services

Work Week: 40 hours (required to work some evenings)

FLSA Status: Exempt EOE

Reports to: CEO

Direct Reports: CLR Attorney, Justice Center Attorney, Volunteer Attorneys, and Student Attorney Interns

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Job Summary: Manage DVCCC’s Attorney Services for victims of domestic violence; provide specialized services that provide victims with emotional support and advocacy and representation of victims of abuse.

Responsibilities:

•Maintain strict confidentiality of all client identification and information. May disclose confidential information only with valid, informed consent from a client or a party legally authorized to consent on behalf of client.

•Manage DVCCC’s Attorney services for victims and assess the impact based on client responses received from the ESQ-LF resulting from the service provided.

•Assure the agency’s legal services adequately meet the needs of domestic violence victims.

•Provide victims with information about the criminal justice process, victim rights, and referrals to other systems.

•Assist victims with filing Emergency Protection from Abuse Orders, injunctions, elder abuse petitions and other protective orders.

•Assist victims with filing for emergency custody/visitation rights in family violence cases.

•Assist victims with individual advocacy including return of personal property or other belongings, advocate on behalf of the victim with other service providers.

•Provide victim advocacy and or accompaniment to a law enforcement agency to provide victim support during the interview and inform victim of

•Work in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office, Court Administrative Office, to coordinate the referrals of all domestic violence cases to DVCCC.

•Work with the CEO and other staff managers to ensure services are provided at all outreach locations in Chester County.

•Assist in the preparation of progress reports specific to legal services.

Staff/Student Intern Supervision

•Meet with staff/interns regularly to review work goal accomplishments, address challenges and develop strategies to meet challenges along with setting timelines to meet goals.

•Provide an annual assessment of staff accomplishments and challenges.

•Provide student intern assessments as required by their school.

•Provide initial employment interview for attorneys .

Team Work

•Assist with answering hotline and/or office line.

•Participate in all agency-wide events: 45 hour advocate training; October Awareness; Volunteer recognition, various celebrations, fairs, etc.

•Attend staff meetings, management team meetings and other required meetings.

•Assist with accomplishing agency-wide annual goals and objectives.

•Assist with keeping the facility clean and neat.

•Prepares a monthly progress and challenge report for supervisor.

•Work with other agency managers to coordinate services for victim/survivors.

•Attend PCADV legal meetings; Attends PCADV meetings as required.

•Able to establish effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, and a variety of internal and external colleagues.

•Attend Chester County Bar Association meetings/functions to inform fellow lawyers of DVCCC’s services and funding needs.

•Other VOCA duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

•Able to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines.

•Strong commitment to the mission and goals of DVCCC, professional work goals and personal development.

•Thorough knowledge and understanding of issues confronted by victims of abuse.

•Able to work with survivors of abuse and their children. Able to work with a diverse population and assist them with addressing trauma.

•Knowledge of civil, criminal and family court systems, and community agency support services available to victims of domestic violence.

•Attorney court representation experience.

•Excellent organization skills and ability to write legal pleadings, briefs, etc.

•Able to work independently on projects and assignments.

•Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, and internal and external colleagues.

Other Requirements

•Must be willing to work flexible hours to meet program needs and grantor accountability requirements.

•Adhere to all agency policies and procedures (attendance, work hours, paperwork, etc.)

•Child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances as required by the state and DVCCC.

•Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products.

•Must have transportation to travel to court, meetings and trainings.

Training

•Complete PCADV’S required 45-hour counselor/advocate training and PCCD’s training requirements.

•Coordinate the legal training.

•Annually complete required courses to maintain law license.

•Participate in Family Law Section of Chester County Bar Association to stay current with amendments to Family Law Legislation.

Physical Requirements:

Much of the work performed is sedentary in nature yet may require the employee to exert themselves with minimal force and/or be able lift or move light objects associated with the job responsibilities.

Environment and Conditions

The incumbent’s typical place of work is an office environment and thus will not be substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions

Disclaimer

•The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job. Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

•Required Juris Doctorate and a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

•Experience working with Family Law