Legal Advocate

Job Responsibility:

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: $25.69 MAXIMUM: $30.57 DATE POSTED: November 21, 2023 TIME: 4:00 p.m. EXPIRY DATE OF POSTING: November 28, 2023 TIME: 4:00 p.m. START DATE: To Be Determined

POSITION SUMMARY

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

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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 work experience with community stakeholder engagement, facilitating public presentations, and group facilitation.

Other : Current and clear Vulnerable Sector Records Police Check, valid First Aid/CPRCertification, valid ASSIST Certification, valid PMAB/CPI/UMAB Certification, Danger AssessmentCertification, Stages of Change training/certification, valid Bill 168 Certification, valid Bill 132Certification, valid Food Safe Handling Certification and valid WHMIS Certification. This is a mobile position and requires a valid Ontario driver's license, roadworthy vehicle with 2 million liability insurance. Member of Association for College of Social Work (if a social worker) or a member of your professional association, bilingual or a second language is an asset. Able to meetCOVID-19 vaccination policy.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Stress:

Frequency Type Potential Stressor

Occasional Predictable (workloads, system Community/legal navigation with community/legal X stakeholders and X services, travelling site to site/to systems navigation meetings, clients)

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Regular Unpredictable (traumatic situations, Multiple site locations

X emergencies, orders/subpoenas etc.) X

(environment)Frequent Client

XCo-workersMany Abusive partner

X

Constant Other

X

Interruptions and Distractions:

Frequency Type Potential Stressor

Occasional Predictable (co-workers, students, X Private Workspace X clients, systems, stakeholders)

Regular Unpredictable (abusive partner, new Shared WorkspaceX X community stakeholder)Frequent Cubicle

Many Reception Desk

Constant Busy/Open/Public Area

X X

Physical Effort:

Frequency Type Physical Condition

Occasional Predictable (donated goods, X Does not have to lift children, office equipment, house- anything or excerpt any hold equipment/goods, presentation/ physical effort agency promotional materials )

Regular Unpredictable (picking up Needs to occasionally liftX donations, or children) items 5-40 lbs.

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Frequent Consistently Needs to lift

X objects of varying weights

Many Needs to be able to move quickly and constantlyConstant

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/WORK HAZARDS

All employees are responsible for creating a friendly, inclusive (non-discriminatory), compassionate, and cohesive environment that will implement strategies and plan to ensure a healthy, safe, and supportive environment is kept at all times.

The setting is fast paced with constantly changing priorities and crisis. Travel between Victoria and Friends,Jared's Place (Women's Centre of Hamilton), and other legal/community services, is necessary to support women. The main office of the Legal Advocate Coordinator is at Jared's Place (the Women's Centre ofHamilton) and the Flamborough Women's Resource Centre however the legal advocate will attend the shelter weekly and support rural women.

Employees are required to sit for potentially lengthy durations of times to write reports and documentation. It can be assumed that lengthy amounts of time will be spent in court and participating in the court process. Employees must take efforts to reduce extended / long durations of time sitting at a desk and in front of a computer. All employees are expected to take breaks and move and walk around when possible.

Thus, workplace hazards will include listening to traumatic stories, exposure to barriers/conflict with lack of services and supports for women experiencing violence and abuse. Additionally, it will include preventing, defusing, and managing clients and/or community services whose behaviours are aggressive, discriminatory, or despondent towards staff and/other women and/or children. Additionally, abusive partners and individuals will be at some of the court and community meetings; priority must be always taken in safety planning with the organization. Additionally, there will be exposure to working with legal/legislated and community stakeholders that may express negative attitudes, beliefs, and bias towards women and their children who experience abuse and violence.

The work environment is funded through grants and government contracts thus employees will be required to keep daily records, notes and produce reports and documentation.

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Please forward a resume and letter of interest describing your skills, competencies, experiences to:

Sue Taylor, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR630 Sanatorium Road, Hamilton, ON, L9C 7S7 or via email at: View email address on ca.edajobs.com

NOTE: Resumes will not be accepted after the deadline.

Please notify of accommodations required, if selected for an interview.

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Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $25.39-$30.57 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision care

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Hamilton, ON L3M 1N8: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Experience:

• legal assistant: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person