What are the responsibilities and job description for the Domestic Violence Legal Advocate position at Domestic Violence Project, Inc.?
Job Summary
The Legal Advocate provides advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Involves outreach to various locations in the community as well as in the shelter to assist with their efforts to make positive changes in their environment.
Essential Functions
- Accept referrals from internal and community sources to interact with survivors; may meet with them in courthouses for early crisis intervention and discussion of their options
- Conduct detailed interviews with survivors to assess their legal needs, determine their history of abuse, provide lethality assessment, safety planning and referrals
- Inform survivors of their rights as the victim of a crime, and how to navigate the legal system
- Educate survivors about safety planning, lethality, the cycle of violence, warning signs of an abusive personality, and the impact of domestic violence on children
- Assist in completion of paperwork such as that necessary to obtain Orders of Protection, and applications for the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program and VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday).
- Act as liaison between the agency, the criminal justice system, and local law enforcement
- Accompany survivors throughout municipal, common pleas, and domestic relations court proceedings such as pre-trial hearings, preliminary hearings, sentencing hearings, and protection order hearings
- Make appropriate referrals for DVPI services such as shelter, support groups, the hotline, and housing assistance
- Provide referrals and linkage to community resources related financial and vocational needs, legal needs, medical care, counseling, alcohol and drug treatment, and other support services
- Track progress and follow-up as needed to meet the goals and needs of the survivor
- Maintain thorough, accurate, and timely client case notes in accordance with DVPI standards
Other Functions
- Represent DVPI at community and collaborative meetings; advocate on behalf of survivors and facilitate positive change
- Complete in-service training and professional development activities mandated by DVPI and its funders
- Other duties as assigned
No phone calls accepted.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- legal advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence: 2 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- driver's license & auto insurance (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $20