Legal Advocate

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Legal/Outreach Advocate to join our team at Axesspointe Community Health Center. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the Outreach Legal Advocacy program and providing direct supervision to legal advocate assistants.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, legal services, hospitals, and other social service agencies to minimize domestic violence.
• Oversee planning, case reviews, and program goal achievement.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining a positive program image in the community.
• Responsible for the evaluation and continual improvement of program services and activities.
• Comply with agency policies and procedures, COA regulations, federal and state requirements, and educational/certification/registry requirements.
• Accept referrals from area criminal justice providers to interact with victims of violent crime, and conduct professional and confidential intakes and assessments.
• Meet with clients at a safe location for early crisis intervention and discussion of client options.
• Oversee the attendance of court hearings with legal advocacy clients to explain procedures and support decisions.
• Work directly with domestic relations and common pleas general division courts.
• Attend ex-parte hearings and full-hearings to help clients obtain a civil protection order in domestic relations court or anti-stalking orders in common pleas court.
• Aid in the preparation of victim's compensation claim paperwork.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to other service providers to increase skill levels and maintain cooperation.
• Promote the Model Ohio Protocol for responding to domestic violence.
• Oversee the maintenance of client files and records confidentially and report statistics to appropriate persons.
• Provide follow-up with clients and service providers as needed.
• Report to the advisory board/supervisor monthly to give and receive input about the position.
• Model awareness and behavior needed for growth and development.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field and/or 2 years minimum experience working with victims.
• Knowledge of client-centered model of crisis intervention skills, and ability to teach crisis intervention.
• Ability to model open communication and work in a team structure.
• Understanding of domestic violence, in the family and in the larger society.
• Valid Ohio driver's license and ability to meet agency requirements for driving insurability.
• Must be able to meet agency requirements for a criminal background check (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation).

Minimum Educational/Licensure Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, or social work and a minimum of two years experience in social services OR in lieu of Bachelor's degree, 4 years experience working with domestic violence victims, courts, or law enforcement personnel.

Minimum Experience Requirements:

Experience in working with victims of domestic violence and an understanding of domestic violence in the family and in the larger society.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to walk up and down stairs and sit for extended periods of time. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.