Senior Legal Advocate

Remedies•Rockford, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Legal Advocate participates in a multidisciplinary team delivering legal advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence. The role uses an empowerment-based, trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach to provide services, support individualized service plans and safety planning, and assist clients with their goals. It also provides supervision and assistance to Legal Advocates. The position will be primarily located at the Winnebago County Family Court Center. The Senior Legal Advocate helps survivors complete Orders of Protection forms and navigate court processes under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. The role builds working relationships with court and justice-system partners, law enforcement, agency teams, and community service providers; maintains confidential and accurate client records; supports agency and grant reporting; and contributes to the development, coordination, and evaluation of legal advocacy services and procedures. The position also participates in agency and community meetings, provides training as requested, and performs other assigned duties. A bachelor's degree in Human Services, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field is required. One year of direct service experience with domestic violence survivors and their families, and one year of professional counseling, advocacy, or case management experience, are preferred. Previous supervisory or management experience is preferred. Completion of the 40-hour Illinois domestic violence training is required; Remedies Renewing Lives will provide the training to new employees who have not completed it. The employee must acquire Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional (CDVP) status within one year of obtaining the supervisory position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field.
Completion of the 40-hour domestic violence training required by the Illinois Domestic Violence Act through an Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional-approved training site; training will be provided by Remedies Renewing Lives for new employees who have not completed it.
Acquire Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional (CDVP) status within one year of obtaining the supervisory position.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and survivors, staff, service providers, professionals, and the public.
Leadership and organizational skills.
Ability to be mobile and move to various offices as needed.
Commitment to the philosophy and program of Remedies Renewing Lives, including commitment to survivors’ and children’s issues, helping create a society free from violence, and working cooperatively.
Ability to relate sensitively to people from varied socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and experiential backgrounds.
Basic computer skills.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to prepare and maintain effective client files and applicable court forms.
Ability to participate in and successfully complete a comprehensive training program.
Sincere interest in working with the client population and ability to engage potential clients or maintain current clients in services through support, encouragement, and trauma-informed services.
Ability to acquire and apply skills for empathetic, empowering counseling, advocacy, and crisis intervention.
High physical and emotional energy to handle the range of circumstances that may arise.

Nice To Haves

Extensive knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence and coercive control.
One year of experience providing direct services to survivors of domestic violence and their families.
One year of professional counseling, advocacy, and/or case management experience.
Previous supervisory or management experience.

Responsibilities

Help survivors complete Orders of Protection forms and navigate court processes under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
Use advocacy-based, trauma-informed techniques to identify and support individual client and survivor needs.
Develop and maintain working relationships with judges, court personnel, justice-system partners, stakeholders, local law enforcement, agency teams, and community service providers.
Provide weekly supervision to Legal Advocates and additional supervision and coaching as needed.
Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with agency standards and applicable laws, including the IDVA, VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA.
Maintain timely, thorough client service records in accordance with agency expectations and Illinois Domestic Violence Service Provider Guidelines.
Provide safety planning and service linkages for clients and survivors.
Develop, distribute, and maintain materials about local legal system procedures as assigned.
Provide legal advocacy training to agency staff and volunteers when requested.
Participate in weekly supervision with the Vice President of Domestic Violence Services, staff meetings, and other program, agency, and community meetings as requested or assigned.
Assist with data collection and accurate, timely documentation for agency and grant reporting, and comply with applicable grant requirements.
Assist with interviewing, hiring, and training Legal Advocates as requested.
Work with the Vice President of Domestic Violence Services to develop, implement, coordinate, and evaluate services and procedures addressing domestic violence legal advocacy needs, consistent with the voluntary services model.
Promote continuity of care through working relationships with agency and community client-service teams, and give and receive support from staff.
Communicate frequently and appropriately in writing and verbally with clients, survivors, referral sources, and employees.
Perform job functions professionally and consistently with confidentiality regulations, ethical practices, agency policies, and the agency mission; maintain a professional image and a positive workplace attitude.
Perform other duties as assigned.