Title: Legal Advocate
Hours: Full time-40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Can occasionally include evenings and weekends
Status: Non-Exempt
Reports to: Legal Advocacy Supervisor
At KCSARC, we not only value diversity – we celebrate it. We are committed to creating a team as diverse as the communities we live in, and we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our team will be. We are rooted in a foundation of anti-racism and equity, which must be demonstrated in word and action. As a proud equal opportunity employer, we welcome all races, ethnicities, genders, abilities, identities, religions, and ages, candidates who are veterans, LGBTQ+, and multilingual, candidates with diverse viewpoints and experiences, and candidates who have an EAD (Employment Authorization Document), regardless of immigration status.
Essential Functions:
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Provide support and information to victims of sexual assault who are involved in the Criminal Justice Process
- Assess the needs of the client and provide appropriate referrals and other collateral services
- Assist the client in making informed decisions about police reporting
- Provide ongoing emotional support to clients
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Inform the client of Crime Victims Compensation benefits
- Attend and provide support at interviews/hearings/trials/sentencing that the victim participates in
- Actively monitor the status of the criminal case and keep clients informed of the status of their case
- Communicate effectively with Detectives, Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys and others in the legal system
- Establish an effective and supportive working relationship with a diverse population
- Work with independent initiative and assertiveness
- Provide information and support to victims and parents at Kid’s/Teen Court
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Assist clients with protective orders
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Give information about civil remedies
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Attend Agency meetings and events
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Duties as assigned by Legal Advocacy Manager and/or Legal Advocacy Supervisor
Internal Relationships
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Actively participate in individual supervision
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Attend internal case staffings
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Attend agency meetings
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Assist in training new staff
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Teach sessions to new staff in CORE training as requested
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Provide cross-departmental training as requested
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Work collaboratively across departments
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Consult and interface with other client services staff on specific cases as appropriate
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Other duties as assigned
External Relationships
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Interface with community professionals for the benefit of KCSARC (DCYF, KCPAO, DOC, LE)
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Participate in professional community groups as needed
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Create and provide training to community groups as prioritized
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Participate in outreach activities as needed.
- Work as an effective team member within the client services department
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Ability to build rapport quickly with a diverse population
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Ability to multi-task
- Ability to prioritize and organize a caseload
- Communicate emotionally difficult information
- Skillfully empathetic
- Ability to work with independence
- Skillfully assertive
- Ability to work with flexibility
- Ability to work with initiative and assertiveness
- Ability to read, write and speak English
- Accept and practice the established Guiding Principles of KCSARC as a personal work guide
- Accept and practice all established policies and procedures
- Knowledge of sexual assault victimization and the healing process
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Excellent interpersonal skills
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Excellent decision making skills
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Excellent professional judgement
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Excellent written and oral communication skills
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Excellent active listening skills
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Excellent problem solving skills
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Demonstrated ability to work independently and a strong work initiative
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Ability to organize and prioritize competing work demands
Physical-mental-psychological skills
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Ability to interface with the impact of secondary trauma
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Ability to work with individuals in a high stress situation
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Ability to uphold confidentiality
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Ability to work in an environment where schedules and appointments vary and change quickly
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Ability to efficiently travel between Renton and the three different courthouses in Kent and Seattle
Technical Functions
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Ability to use Word, Access based database system, Outlook
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Proficiency in working with multiple video platforms such as zoom, teams, etc.
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Keyboarding skills
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Ability to use a standard telephone and VOIP phone applications
- 4 year college degree plus 1 year directly related work experience OR
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2 years college/vocational training plus 3 years related work experience OR
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6 years directly related work experience
Position Requirements:
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Some Travel Required (travel, workspace etc.)
- Must have current car insurance
- Must have a valid driver’s license
Preferred Experience :
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Experience in providing assistance to victims of sexual assault
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Demonstrated knowledge of the criminal justice system
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Demonstrated ability to work effectively with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
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Strong cross-cultural communication skills.
Benefits:
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Medical, vision and dental coverage (employer paid for employee)
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Short-term & long-term disability coverages available
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HSA, HRA, and FSA Options
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(20) Paid Time Off (PTO) days per year, progressively increases
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Up to 10 hours of Wellness time per quarter
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401(k) retirement Options (up to%5 matching)
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9 paid Holidays plus two floating holidays
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Dependent care options
