Full-Time Legal Advocate, MCASA Sexual Assault Legal Institute/ Sexual Assault Kit Initiative
Position Overview
The Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI), a program within the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA), is seeking a Full-Time Legal Advocate to help sexual assault survivors, including those affected by the backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits in Maryland. This position provides direct services to sexual assault survivors and assists with online communication to provide survivors with legal information and other resources. Administrative duties include assisting with grants management and maintaining victim notification preferences using a client database. SALI provides legal services to survivors of sexual violence, and training & technical assistance to service providers working with survivors. This position reports directly to the SAKI Victim Notification Project Manager.
Note: MCASA staff is currently working remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions. Staff generally must be available for meetings with partners or events in the State of Maryland as necessary and if safe. Staff may return to work on-site part-time in Silver Spring at some point in the future and is currently permitted to work in the office subject to social distancing, PPE, and occupancy restrictions.
Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to: jobs@mcasa.org in Word or PDF.
Classification: Non-Exempt
Responsibilities and Duties
- Conduct victim notifications and initial interviews (intakes) with survivors of sexual assault impacted by the sexual assault evidence kit backlog in Maryland.
- Provide high quality, culturally competent advocacy for survivors of sexual assault.
- Provide technical assistance to law enforcement and advocates conducting trauma-informed victim notifications.
- Maintain client victim notification preferences within the notification database.
- Assist in the creation of victim notification individual plans and coordinate victim notification with law enforcement SAKI liaisons and local victim advocates.
- Provide safety planning for survivors.
- Participate in forums and meetings relating to SALI and SAKI activities.
- Assist attorneys of sexual assault survivors in a range of cases; these may include protective and peace orders, U-visa, family law, crime victim rights, education, employment and other cases.
- Coordinate and develop culturally competent outreach materials and arrange for appropriate translation of current SALI and SAKI literature.
- Assist in the production of training and technical assistance materials including dissemination of recent research findings or policy changes to rape crisis and recovery centers, MCASA members, law enforcement agencies, and professionals working with survivors.
- Increase SAKI and SALI’s presence on social media and improve legal information available on MCASA’s agency-wide website.
- Support updating website content including researching and updating factsheets and other resource webpages.
- Support effective agency communications including, for example, listservs, social media, e-newsletter, conference calls, etc.
- Collect data needed for grant reports or other reasons; assist in report preparation using LegalServer database.
- Assist in recruiting and work with legal interns.
- Prioritize and fulfill responsibilities in accordance with available funding and grant requirements.
- Comply with or assist others in compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct (legal ethics).
- Ensure compliance with grant objectives, goals, collection of data and reporting requirements.
- Prepare grant reports and assist with development of grant applications
- Commitment to complying with PPE recommendations including wearing a mask, social distancing, and sanitation. Flexibility to work off-site or on-site.
- Such other duties as assigned by Executive Director & Counsel
Qualifications
- Commitment to ending sexual violence
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Women’s Studies, Education, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, AA in Paralegal Studies, or equivalent experience required.
- Experience working with survivors of sexual assault or other power-based violence such as domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, preferred.
- Familiar with the national sexual assault kit backlog issues and effective responses.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills. Performing arts or debating experience preferred.
- Strong oral and written communication, organizational, problem-solving and planning skills
- Fluent in English; conversant in Spanish or other language strongly preferred.
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Power Point, Excel), NEON, Mailchimp, and Adobe Connect preferred
- Ability to use and communicate professionally and effectively through e-mail and social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms; able to learn and use new technology such as online databases and communication systems
- Understanding of and experience with providing trauma-informed and victim-centered services.
- Skilled and enthusiastic about developing ways to share legal information via technology, including social media and website.
- Familiarity with LegalServer or commitment to learn database.
- Knowledge and/or previous work experience with sexual assault related issues preferred.
- Ability to work remotely (equipment is provided by agency). Ability to work in office in Silver Spring, Maryland when public health recommendations permit.
- Access to a car and valid driver’s license; this position requires travel within the State of Maryland. Out of state travel required 1-3 times annually.
Physical Demands
he physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Commitment to Diversity
MCASA is an equal opportunity employer. Its policy of nondiscrimination means that all employment decisions will be based on merit and without regard to factors unrelated to job performance, such as ethnicity, creed, marital status, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical, emotional or mental capacity.
