Sexual Violence Legal Advocate

**Sexual Violence Legal Advocate**

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region supports survivors of sexual violence. We listen, facilitate healing, and celebrate resiliency. Using an anti-racist, intersectional feminist approach, we work to transform systems which promote gender-based violence.

**Essential Requirements**
- Post-secondary education in a social justice related program.
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
- Experience providing advocacy.

**Key Areas of Responsibility**
- Inform survivors of sexual assault of their basic legal rights, processes, and how to assert them within the criminal and civil justice systems.
- Assistance in preparing clients for court.
- Assist clients in interactions with criminal justice professionals and/or private lawyers.

**Knowledge and Skills Required**:

- A strong understanding of gender-based violence and the criminal justice system.
- Familiarity with intersectionality and acknowledge the impact of oppressive systems and services.
- Proven skills in support, crisis intervention, and advocacy with survivors of gender-based violence.

**Compensation and Benefits**:
Note: Most new team members will start close to the entry point of the range. SASC has a 35-hour work week.

Pay Grade: 4

Min: $28.48 per hour; $51,833.60 per annum

Max: $33.50 per hour; $60,970.00 per annum

**Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression Statement**

**We recognize that sexual violence disproportionately impacts women, trans, and non-binary people. We particularly recognize the impact of racism and colonialism on Black, Indigenous, and racialized women, girls, gender-diverse, and two-spirit survivors.**

We acknowledge that the majority of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main office at 151 Frederick Street in Kitchener, Ontario is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on either side of the Grand River.

**COVID-19 Vaccination Protocol**:
To maintain the safety of our team, service users, and community, all new staff are required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a pre-condition of their employment.

**How to Apply**:
**_only those selected for an interview will be contacted._**

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**Job Description - Sexual Violence Legal Advocate**

**Job Purpose**

Reporting to the Director of Services, the Sexual Violence Legal Advocate is responsible for supporting survivors through legal processes related to sexual violence and trauma.

The Legal Advocate will support survivors who reach out to SASC seeking information on legal resources and/or assistance navigating the criminal or civil legal system. They will be accountable to provide supportive, strengths-based, non-judgmental advocacy, accompaniments, systems navigation, and psycho-education to survivors who have been impacted by sexual violence.

**Duties and Responsibilities**
- Provide support services to victims and survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and intimate partner violence.
- Inform survivors of sexual assault of their basic legal rights, processes, and how to assert them within the criminal and civil justice systems.
- Conduct client intakes, assess needs and implement strategies to meet the legal needs of survivors in the community.
- Assistance in preparing clients for court.
- Provide advocacy and accompaniments to survivors. Active monitoring of the case in a legal setting or hearing.
- Assist clients in interactions with criminal justice professionals and/or private lawyers.
- Write letters of support/advocacy and therapy reports.
- Participate in case conferences and consultations.
- Make appropriate referrals to other community services and communicate with other service providers to support clients.
- Maintain and build community partnerships, within the Legal advocate role.
- Provide practical assistance to clients as necessary and access to VQRP+ when available. (ie. bus tickets, grocery vouchers, hygiene products, food items, book loans, etc.)
- Keep abreast of changes in laws and reporting requirements.
- Make sure client files and data including progress notes are up to date on a regular basis, and elevate issues and programmatic needs.
- Collect, track, analyze and complete data reporting in alignment with requirements for both SASC as well as adhering to funder requirements.
- Participate in internal and external supervision and team meetings.

Additionally, in a small agency, it is often the case that work of a nature similar to that in each job is either assigned or known to be necessary to be done. As well, from time to time, work that is not similar in nature to the job may also be required to be done by individuals in any job in order to accomplish the SASC’s purpose.

**Qualifications**
- Post-secondary education in a social justice program.
- Experience advocating for victims/survivors of