Legal Advocate

HopeWorks of Howard County

Location

Columbia, MD

Category

Other Staff

Posted

January 3, 2023

Type

Full-Time

Description/Duties

The Legal Advocate assists victims of domestic violence in Howard County. The Legal Advocate’s direct service responsibilities include providing support, information, advocacy, and court accompaniment to victims of domestic violence including assistance with protective orders, civil, criminal, and other court matters, and legal referrals. The Legal Advocate is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice. See a full description at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/1456344.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Respond promptly to phone calls from potential clients and community members
  • Assists clients seeking Protective Orders and attend court hearings when needed
  • Provide brief advice, information, referral, and safety planning, as appropriate, to clients
  • Promptly update the Team Legal Calendar to reflect appointments and court cases
  • Maintain a full supply of forms, information sheets, pamphlets and resource lists applicable to standard client/community requests
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date contact logs and statistical information for electronic files, grants and departmental reports
  • Maintain a current data base for resources and referrals for clients
  • Conduct intakes and evidence/document collection for clients seeking consultation or representation
  • Provide summaries, evidence and information to the legal team for case review
  • Keeps Director informed of any activities or client crisis that is outside of the normal scope of work
  • Answer crisis calls coming into the legal department
  • Provide case management services to clients requiring additional assistance to address economic, housing, and other attendant issues
  • Maintain client case files and ensure that all required information is complete before forwarding to attorney
  • Maintain and update the conflicts database contemporaneously with contact to the department
  • Assist with data entry
  • Conduct follow-up information and surveys
  • Accompany clients to court and offer support and information in criminal and civil legal proceedings
  • Manage communication, create monthly volunteer calendars and run quarterly volunteer meetings with volunteers in the Volunteer Legal Advocacy Program
  • Assist with recruitment and training of volunteers and interns
  • Appear in court to provide outreach to potential clients, as part of the Volunteer Legal Advocacy Program
  • Provide outreach to current and potential partner-organizations
  • Perform all other duties as assigned by the Legal Director

Skills/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree (preferred) or 2 years’ experience in a related field
  • Native or near-native fluency in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic or French (preferred)
  • Experience working with victims/survivors of trauma (preferred)
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and other computer software
  • Passionate about the mission and philosophy of HopeWorks
  • Team oriented, client centered and believes in a strengths-based and empowerment approach to providing trauma-informed services
  • Commitment to cultural competency and humility
  • Availability to work at least two evenings per month, as needed, to meet client needs
  • Current, valid driver’s license and insurance and reliable transportation to travel between the office, the court and other locations for meetings, trainings, collecting evidence, delivering subpoenas, etc.

Compensation

$48,000

How To Apply

Applicants must submit a letter of interest and complete resume. Email your resume and letter of interest to ajcolkitt@hopeworksofhc.org or send by mail to:

A.J. Colkitt, Esquire
Director of Legal Services
HopeWorks of Howard County
9770 Patuxent Woods Dr., Suite 300
Columbia, MD 21046

NO phone calls will be accepted

Resumes submitted without a letter of interest will not be reviewed. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will only respond to applicants whose candidacy is being considered.

HopeWorks is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, marital status or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.

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