Legal Advocate, Victim Services

Founded in 1978, SeniorLAW Center is a dynamic nonprofit public interest legal services organization whose mission is to seek justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community, and advocating on local, state, and national levels. We are the only non-profit agency in Pennsylvania wholly dedicated to providing legal assistance to older persons and protecting their legal rights, and one of few in the nation. SeniorLAW Center prioritizes services to older people who are low-income, cultural, and racial minorities, the disabled, victims of crime and family violence, and those facing other vulnerabilities and challenges. We fight senior poverty, fraud, and homelessness, provide protection from elder abuse and financial exploitation, enable grandparents to raise grandchildren, and improve access to justice.

Position Summary:
The Legal Advocate, Victim Services provides direct legal services to and engages in education and advocacy on behalf of older victims in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and/or Montgomery Counties.

Join a dynamic team serving and making a real impact in the community and in individual lives, pursuing a mission of justice. This is a full-time exempt hybrid position based in Philadelphia, with a minimum in-person presence of at least 2 days/week in Philadelphia. The person in the role must be flexible and able to come into the office more as needed and be readily accessible for intake questions and issues.

Salary range is commensurate with years of experience and SeniorLAW Center’s salary structure: starting salary $46,500. Excellent benefits, including fully paid health and dental for employee, long- and short-term disability, 401k, flexible spending plan, sabbatical plan, and generous holidays and leave time, with a value of over $20,000. SeniorLAW Center has a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for all staff and volunteers.

Role-Based Duties and Responsibilities:
Client related

• Handle all aspects of client intake, including, but not limited to:
  • retrieving, transcribing and performing prescreen data entry in the case management system
  • screening and interviewing walk-in clients in coordination with Intake staff
  • conducting client interviews by telephone or in person to screen for eligibility for services
  • scheduling, canceling and confirming client appointments
  • reviewing on-line intake and/or e-transfers
  • reviewing agency-wide project-related checklists with project clients.
  • maintenance of attorney clinic slots in case management system
• Assist project staff with case-related tasks including but not limited to:
  • preparing and mailing retainers and letters,
  • drafting court documents
  • communicating with clients or third parties via telephone, email, text message or other by other means
    assisting in preparation of case files for hearing/trial
  • assisting in maintenance of case files and case management database
  • providing support to attorneys at court, as needed
  • conducting home visits to frail or homebound clients
  • handling other case or client related tasks as necessary
• Utilize Language line or other interpretation services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) older adults.
• Provide information and referrals to older victims, linking them to other resources and supportive services, including emergency financial assistance, support groups, health services and other resources.
  

Community Outreach and Education

• Represent SeniorLAW Center at professional committees/coalitions related to older adult victimization to advocate for better services and access to justice for older victims of crime.
• Develop and present legal education workshops to older adults to prevent victimization, identify victims and promote self-identification or refer them to needed services.
• Aid in the development of educational materials and resources for older victims of crime and “best practices” resources for professionals.
• Aid in planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and tabling events.
• Assist with community clinics focused on older victims of crime.
• Coordinate with Project Director to update website, E-News, and other communication tools with project related information.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in scheduled project related meetings.
• Participate in staff and Legal team meetings.
• Provide support to other colleagues agency wide as needed.
• Assist with on-boarding staff as needed.
• Become knowledgeable of and follow all SeniorLAW Center’s personnel and legal policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate and model commitment to SeniorLAW Center’s mission and values.
• Participate in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy and events to support the organization.
• Assist with quality control and case management data collection and reporting as necessary
• Other responsibilities to further mission of the project and organization.

Project-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related

• Conduct client interviews by telephone, in person, or at the domestic violence unit in Philadelphia Family Court to assess issues and determine eligibility for program services.
• Review Legal Health Checklist with victims.
• Provide information and referrals to older victims, linking them to other resources and support services, including emergency financial assistance, support groups health services and other resources.
• Assist with maintenance of resources and referral information for older victims of crime.
• Provide crisis and follow up counseling for older victims
• Assist Staff Attorneys, Victim Services in preparing to provide emergency justice related legal assistance and representation. Where necessary, engage in further investigation regarding elder abuse and financial exploitation claims.
• Assist older victims with preparation of and submission of Victim Compensation Claims.

Systemic Advocacy
Identify systemic problems affecting older victims of crime and work with our local, statewide and national partners to develop creative solutions.

Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Education and Experience:
Associate degree or paralegal certificate or 2 years’ experience in a legal setting

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate or 4 years’ experience in a legal setting
• Experience with victims of crime and/or violence
• Second language proficiency preferred
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors:

• Must be a motivated self-starter
• Must possess high quality advocacy skills
• Highly professional, organized, energetic, flexible, and culturally sensitive
• Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Interest and ability to work with older people and persons of different backgrounds

Work Conditions:

• This job operates in a professional office environment.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.
  

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Position:         

Legal Advocate, Victim Services

Location:        

Philadelphia, PA

Reports to:      

Director, Guardianship, Grandfamilies and Victim Services (GGVS)

Hours of Work: 

9 AM-5 PM

Work setting:

Minimum 2 days per week in-office requirement, Philadelphia PA

Classification: 

Exempt

Travel:

As needed

SLC is an equal opportunity employer and values fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace in all aspects of our work. SLC prohibits discrimination based on age, race, national origin, color, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, sex, gender identity, familial status, or any other basis prohibited by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.