Mitigation Specialist, Exploitation Intervention Project
About The Position
The Legal Aid Society has an immediate opening for a Mitigation Specialist with the Exploitation Intervention Project (EIP). EIP works to minimize the harms of the criminal legal system through direct legal representation and legislative and policy advocacy on behalf of criminalized trafficking victims, victims of gender-based violence, and sex workers. This role requires regular collaboration with our own interdisciplinary team (which includes criminal defense attorneys, mitigation specialists, an immigration attorney, and a paralegal client advocate) as well as with staff from other LAS projects, subject matter experts, and community-based organizations. The Mitigation Specialist will provide client services to individuals who have been either sex or labor trafficked, who have experienced significant gender-based violence, or whose criminal charges are related to their engagement in sex work. The Mitigation Specialist will be a central member of the defense teams representing clients currently being prosecuted and will also assist with post-conviction relief. Please note that this position is based out of Legal Aid’s Manhattan office, but covers cases in all five boroughs and requires frequent travel to Legal Aid’s borough offices as well as to Rikers, on occasion.
Requirements
- MSW degree and New York State (NYS) license in social work (LMSW or LCSW) preferred OR the ability to obtain LMSW licensure within 6 months of hire
- Experience working with sex workers, labor/sex trafficking survivors, and/or victims of gender-based violence, OR with clients who are justice-involved and/or who have experienced trauma, mental illness and substance use
- Excellent writing skills with a strong emphasis in persuasive writing
- Strong track record of interdisciplinary collaboration
- Strong organizational and time management skills
Nice To Haves
- Proficiency in languages other than English (particularly Spanish or Mandarin) desirable but not required
Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with clients and interview collaterals for the purposes of writing persuasive mitigation reports, informing the legal strategy and developing a treatment plan. This may include the use of validated instruments (e.g. PCL-5, ACE questionnaire, etc.) as appropriate
- Review and synthesize records including, but not limited to, medical, educational, psychiatric, and employment
- Attend court appearances, prep clients for and attend proffers, participate in case conferences, etc
- Assess and address client needs such as access to benefits, housing, counseling, and make referrals as appropriate
- Support clients in immigration proceedings in collaboration with EIP’s immigration attorney (assessing clients, writing responses to Requests For Evidence, etc.)
- Participate in post-conviction relief efforts including interviewing clients, writing select elements of motions and providing socioemotional support to clients through the post-conviction process
- Maintain familiarity with relevant state and federal statutes and screen clients to determine if their experience meets the legal criteria for sex or labor trafficking
- Represent EIP in the broader anti-trafficking community, whether by conducting presentations with community-based organizations or engaging in systemic reform through legislative advocacy and coalition building
- Other duties as assigned
Benefits
- health insurance
- paid vacation
- disability
- life insurance
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- State and Federal loan forgiveness programs
- assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
