Legal Advocate

**JOB POSTING - Internal and External**

**JOB CLASSIFICATION**:Legal Advocate
**POSITION**:Union, Permanent, Full-time
**NORMAL HOURS OF WORK**:9:00am - 4:30pm 7.5 hour shifts, 37.5 hrs./week, flexibility required
**SCHEDULED SHIFTS**:Monday to Friday, with flexibility for evenings and weekends
**JOB PAY RATE**:$25.99 **MAXIMUM**:$30.74
**DATE POSTED: April 17 2024 4:30 pm**.
**EXPIRY DATE OF POSTING**:April 24th 4:00pm
**START DATE**:To Be Determined

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To provide feminist (diverse intersectional)-based compassionate and innovative information, referrals and system navigation and advocacy for women who have experienced gender-based violence, abuse, and survivors of human trafficking, who are accessing legal/legislated (family, immigration, criminal, child welfare etc.) services. This will include but is not limited to providing information, referrals, case management, and accompaniment to legal/community meetings, arranging, facilitating, and attending community meetings/case conferencing, and providing community training to public and community agencies. This role also includes carrying out all organization and administrative functions associated with the assigned caseload. Sound working knowledge of stages of change, motivational interviewing, trauma
- informed approached used in supportive practices. Oversees and coordinates volunteers, attends fundraising events and community engagement opportunities, and is responsible for keeping and providing accurate and precise statistical reports. This position is mobile in the community and includes supporting rural areas.

**Key Activities**
- To adhere to Interval House policies, philosophies, procedures, and work practices.
- Assist women experiencing violence with navigating the legal systems - with an expertise in family law.
- Build connections with community lawyers who focus on supporting women experiencing family violence.
- Provide appointment and court accompaniment, as well as safety planning for court.
- Engage communities and build interagency collaboration, provide public and professional education, and deliver services within an outreach model.
- Provide general and VAW specific counseling to women, with a focus on safety.
- Use risk assessment tools to assess risk of harm and lethality and safety plan accordingly.
- Assess women for 2-hour DV Legal Vouchers, consistent with LAO standards and maintain accurate records, report to LAO monthly.
- Through interagency collaboration provide case management and case planning including crisis prevention/intervention.
- Provide women with legal information, legal forms, and referrals.
- Support the physical, emotional and safety needs of children to ensure that they are receiving the necessary intervention, protection, and support.
- Develop and coordinate good working relationships with referral agencies and other outside professionals, specifically including Legal Aid Ontario, Hamilton Police Services, C/CAS, and
- Victim Services.
- Working knowledge of various housing options including non-profit, private, co-op and housing benefit programs.
- Develop and deliver groups for women.
- Oversee and coordinate volunteers for the Court Support Program.
- Attend fundraising events and community engagement opportunities,
- Refer, advocate, and network within the various systems.
- Attend and participate in staff meetings, community meeting, committees, and related activities.
- Through mobile engagement support rural women with legal supports.
- Assist with supporting women in shelter, including assisting with shelter tasks and programing.
- Coordinate and perform various operational and administrative responsibilities such as preparation of comprehensive statistical reports, data collection and providing research to support special projects including the preparation of the program reports as required by funders.
- Other related duties as assigned.

**SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED**
- Action oriented **Creative**:

- Approachable Crisis management/conflict resolution **Compassion **Decision quality and results driven2023/08/22 2 of 4
- Diversity and inclusion practice **Sound knowledge of CFSA & legal systems**:

- Ethics and values (Family, Criminal, Immigration, Child
- Excellent written and verbal skills Welfare)
- Integrity & trust Sound knowledge of legislation affecting **Interpersonal and political savvy women and their children**:

- Listening

**QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED**

**Education**: Undergraduate degree or a minimum of a 2-year college diploma from a recognized institution in Social Work, Social Service Worker, Law and Security or Legal Assistant, or equivalent.

**Experience**: Minimum 3 years’ experience working with women experiencing violence, abuse or trafficking preferably in shelter or community counselling and/or experience working in criminal or family courts/ victim services/ law office work environment. Experience with case management, safety planning and record keeping. Sound w