Legal Advocate

Company: Haven
Location: Bozeman
Posted on: January 27, 2023

Job Description:

Haven began serving survivors in 1979. Over the last four decades, Haven has worked to both provide safe intervention for survivors of domestic violence, as well as to prevent future violence from occurring. We believe increased awareness through community education can make us all allies in ending domestic violence. Haven is the only nonprofit serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence, sex trafficking, and stalking in Gallatin County. Our approach makes us unique everything we do is deeply and genuinely rooted in empowerment. We connect survivors to all the resources and help they need while trusting they should be the ones to decide what s best for their own journey. Haven s Legal Advocate is a professional trained to support survivors by providing emotional support, information and referrals, assistance filing petitions for orders of protection and preparing for hearings, and accompaniment during hearings. The legal advocate also coordinates with other systems-based and social services agencies and assists with data collection and grant reporting. RESPONSIBILITIES: Legal Advocacy:

• Provide crisis intervention, follow up, support, advocacy, information and referrals to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking
• Assist participants with petitioning for temporary and permanent orders of protection in the Bozeman and Belgrade courts
• Provide hearing preparation and accompaniment to participants during order of protection hearings and other legal proceedings, as appropriate
• Refer to appropriate agency (Montana Legal Services Association, self help law center) when needed
• Offer space and emotional support for participants who are interested in filing a dissolution of marriage and/or a parenting plan
• Once trained and accredited, provide assistance to immigrant victims of violence filing VAWA, T VISA and U VISA petitions, as directed by Intervention Manager General Advocacy:
  • Provide floating support to the shelter as needed and/or requested by the Intervention Manager
  • Provide crisis intervention, follow-up, emotional support, advocacy, information, and referrals to participants
  • Assess for safety using a lethality assessment tool
  • Answer calls, instant messaging, and/or participant emails and record interactions
  • Make financial decisions regarding participant need request Interagency Networking:
    • Act as staff liaison between Haven and systems-based partner agencies
    • Provide training and shift briefings to law enforcement, judges, court personnel, jail personnel and other groups providing legal intervention services
    • Collaborate with Gallatin County Victim Assistance Programs Director and staff as appropriate while maintaining Montana state law and Haven confidentiality requirements
    • Attend the Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) meetings
    • Act as staff liaison to Family Justice Coordinating Council
    • Maintain records of all interagency networking and meetings
    • Participate in local task forces, coalitions and teams as needed
    • Develop and maintain a current referral list of attorneys for assistance in civil legal matters Data Collection:
      • Maintain accurate, permanent records of services provided in appropriate data managements systems (iCarol, DOJ Muskie database) and submit reports of these as requested by the Programs Director or Executive Director
      • Conduct regular, accurate data entry (including surveys and testimonials), and data management per standards set by Intervention Manager and Programs Director
      • Submit monthly reports summarizing presentations and trainings to Intervention Manager and Programs Director
      • Provide monthly board reports to the Executive Director .
      • Record daily activity for grant monitoring purposes. Other:
        • Train and supervise legal advocacy interns/paraprofessionals and volunteers and monitor their performance
        • Maintain proper financial records and receipts for all legal advocacy expenses
        • Attend staff meetings and other meetings as directed by Intervention Manager
        • Attend board meetings as requested
        • Provide support for fundraising and volunteer activities as needed
        • Present at volunteer trainings as requested by Prevention Coordinator or Intervention Manager
        • Other duties as assigned by the Intervention Manager, Programs Director, and/or Executive Director

Keywords: Haven, Bozeman , Legal Advocate, Legal , Bozeman, Montana