Program Description

Brooklyn Legal Services (BLS) seeks a full-time Master of Social Work (MSW) to join an interdisciplinary team of legal advocates. The legal-social work interdisciplinary teams at BLS utilize a holistic, trauma-informed, collaborative advocacy model to provide free legal services to low-income New Yorkers. This Social Worker will assist attorneys and other legal staff to promote the rights of and provide services to elderly Brooklynites, and other vulnerable client communities we serve. The Social Worker will work with attorneys and clients to help develop and determine appropriate case strategies, prepare and support court cases, and they will work directly with clients to assess and address their non-legal needs.

About Brooklyn Legal Services

Brooklyn Legal Services is part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) and provides high quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Brooklyn’s diverse, low-income communities. LSNYC’s mission is to fight poverty and seek racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country. Our staff of over 600 people, in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs, help more than 110,000 New Yorkers annually. BLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients —preserving affordable and decent housing, maintaining income support, redressing abusive lending and consumer practices, promoting family stability and mitigating the effects of domestic and intimate partner violence, advocating for the disabled and marginalized groups and working with immigrant clients to adjust, maintain, and defend their immigration status.

LSNYC prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. As a social justice organization, we are committed to fighting for a workplace that is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as possible for everyone. Our DEIB committee and numerous affinity groups work to foster collegial relationships among staff, and allow staff to explore and advocate for racial justice and anti-oppression growth within our organization and through our legal work. All employees are expected to learn about, seek to understand, and work to realize our DEIB goals. LSNYC provides numerous opportunities for growth and professional development.

Responsibilities

The Social Worker will provide a range of services including but not limited to:

· Work remotely and in-person as part of an interdisciplinary team to address clients’ legal and non-legal needs and assist clients in understanding the legal process;

· Support clients in identifying and addressing medical, mental health, housing, education and

social service needs;

· Provide supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and community referrals to culturally- and linguistically-appropriate services;

· Identify and establish relationships with other community services needed to assist our clients;

· Conduct psychosocial assessments and evaluations of clients to assist in their legal case;

· Prepare service plans and provide clients with court accompaniment, advocacy, and counseling support;

· Complete home visits to clients to assess client needs, housing conditions, and to provide case management assistance (Note: home visits are not currently expected due to COVID-19, but are expected to resume when it is safe to do so);

· Collaborate with other BLS social work staff to develop and share relevant resources and trainings to colleagues;

· Attend community events, provide community education, and trainings, as necessary;

· Prepare data reports, as necessary.

Requirements

· Demonstrated passion for social justice and commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity;

· Deep understanding of and ability to work well with people of diverse ages, and national,

ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds;

· Master of Social Work degree and New York State LMSW license (license will be required within one year from date of hire);

· Experience and comfort working with people who experience mental health-, medical-, and trauma-related conditions;

· Case management and client advocacy experience with vulnerable community members;

· Familiarity with New York City institutions and social service systems;

· Experience providing crisis intervention and short-term, supportive counseling;

· Ability to work both independently to self-manage day-to-day schedule with clients and as part of a collaborative team;

· Excellent interpersonal, writing, communication and oral presentation skills;

· Outstanding organizational, planning, and time management skills;

· Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) certified, (preferred)

· Experience working as a social worker in a legal environment or as part of an interdisciplinary team (preferred);

· Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, internet research, etc., and a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies; and

· Proficiency or fluency in Spanish or other language(s) commonly spoken by our client communities (preferred).

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date Covid vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

How to Apply

Interested individuals should email a résumé, cover letter, and two writing samples to: Bkhiring@lsnyc.org

Please write “MSW Social Worker” in the subject line

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

BLS offers an excellent benefits package, hybrid remote work policy, and highly competitive public interest salary. Clinical social work supervision provided. We offer excellent benefits, including health, dental, and vision plans; contributions to a 403(b) plan; generous leave time. Salary is commensurate with experience (determined by Collective Bargaining Agreement). Staff members who are not managers are members of the LSSA/NOLSW UAW Local 2320.

Brooklyn Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer: people of color; women; people with disabilities; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people; and people over the age of 40 are welcome and encouraged to apply. We are committed to race, gender, and economic justice in our work and within our workplace.

Salary Range (Based on years’ experience): Job#88_2023; Posted: 12.2023

• 1-10 years: $62,805 -$85,108

• 11-20 years: $87,256 - $104,721

• 21 years: $109,961 - $120,073

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,805.00 - $120,073.00 per year

Benefits:

• Adoption assistance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Family leave
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Loan forgiveness
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Brooklyn, NY 11233: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person