Job Title:       Bilingual Legal Liaison
Program:      Legal
Schedule:      Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Supervisor:   Legal Administrative Director

Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support is a non-profit agency providing a continuum of care for women and children who are victims of family violence. For thirty years Genesis has been providing safety, shelter, crisis intervention, on-going counseling and advocacy for women and children at both residential and non-residential locations.  Genesis continues to be a community leader in providing training and education on issues surrounding intimate partner and gender-based violence.

Your role will support the mission thorough the following actions:

  • Support a client-centered operation with a mindset of care, compassion, and humility.
  • Be aware of Client(s) particular circumstances (e.g. health concerns, peak stress time, emotional difficulties, problems, etc.)
  • At times require you to be resourceful and have the ability to make decisions in a timely efficient manner using the training and guidance you have been given.
  • Recognize that diversity of culture, personality, and life experience are ingredients for a better world.
  • Demonstrate experience with sensitivity to varying cultural, ethnic, and social backgrounds, values, and attitudes
  • Communicate with Client(s) and team member(s) with a positive and willing attitude to help
  • Flexibility to learn at all times and recover with poise and ease from setbacks.
  • Understand and abide by the confidentiality standards of the organization.
  • Ensure that all health and safety standards are followed and corrected when needed
  • Provide a warm and welcoming, safe space for the families we serve.
  • Independently manage time with little supervision.
  • Ability to multitask, handle on-site crisis and adapt to the changing needs of the families we serve with compassion and humility.
  • Acceptance of agency philosophies regarding domestic violence, internal conflict resolutions, and how decisions are determined.
  • Able to develop and maintain positive working relationships with clients, staff and community contacts and able to effectively address and resolve conflict as needed
  • Commitment to a holistic approach to providing services, as well as to community-based solutions for addressing the root causes of violence and survivor needs
  • Ability to work respectfully with diverse teams, build consensus, and motivate change

Your responsibilities are:

The Legal Liaison will support victims of domestic violence through the provision of trauma informed advocacy and case management services. This will include both advocacy and assistance for the client within the legal system as well as referrals and assistance to outside support services that have either a direct or collateral effect on the legal circumstances of the client and their minor children. The Legal Liaison will work primarily with clients either referred to or represented by the Legal Services Department. Outside and Inter-agency services and referrals shall include local independent school districts, nutrition services, family health services, housing services, basic needs and other legal services.

  • Coordinating assistance for legal clients with other service providers, such as meetings with housing programs, medical appointments, and legal service coordination.
  • Complete client intakes, family background information, and set individual goals both short and long term.
  • Assist in identifying needs of legal clients and giving appropriate referrals and resources to fit their needs.
  • Assess legal needs of clients to determine the appropriate course of action to provide and obtain legal assistance for the client.
  • Help legal clients, in conjunction with other Legal Department staff in creating and implementing safety planning.
  • Provide support to clients including explaining legal processes and procedures, obtaining necessary documents for court filings and related procedures and accompany client to court and other necessary appointments.
  • Assist legal clients in completing forms, documents and tasks related to legal cases and surrounding circumstances.
  • Assess and refer clients for participation in programs designed to address and support the emotional impact of the Civil Court Process on Intimate Partner Violence survivor litigants and their children.
  • Use currently established referral relationships while also discovering and implementing new referral resources.
  • Establish referral relationships with other social service agencies.
  • Maintain accurate file records in an electronic case management system.
  • Serve as an advocate for legal clients in obtaining community resources in person, through phone calls, writing letters on behalf of clients, etc.,
  • Participate in Legal Intake meetings and other client meetings as requested and necessary.
  • Act as an interpreter between clients and other legal staff members and between clients and outside service providers connected to the client’s legal needs or legal case.
  • Abide by standards of the Rules of Professional Responsibility as to client confidentiality and attorney-client privilege.
  • Conduct speaking engagements within the community about domestic violence, related topics and the GWSS response.
  • Assists with any other projects/task as assigned

Skills / Requirements:

  • Bilingual (English/Spanish) required
  • Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field required. Master’s Degree preferred.
  • Experience in crisis intervention, casework services, counseling, advocacy, legal systems and coordination of services, preferably in area of domestic violence.
  • Office technology literacy, including Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Cloud based storage systems, and file management software is strongly preferred.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing in English/Spanish.

Qualified candidates can apply online by clicking here or submit cover letter and resume to resume@genesisshelter.org.