Legal Advocate

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.  This full time position provides domestic violence advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence in order to promote self-determination and safety. The role of the Legal Advocate is to strengthen and improve services to victims of domestic violence engaged in the criminal and family law legal systems. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an interest and understanding in the dynamics and needs of social justice and trauma-informed approach to direct client services. HopeWorks’ staff are invested and engaged in altering the systems and imbalances of power that maintain the status quo and are root causes of sexual and intimate partner violence – including racism, transphobia, poverty, xenophobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression. The successful candidate will have a commitment to social justice. The successful candidate will also understand the root causes of sexual and intimate partner violence and have a commitment to social justice. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.

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 insure 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