Legal Services Specialist
OPENING DATE: 09/13/21
CLOSING DATE: 09/27/21 11:59 PM Central Time
JOB TYPE: Limited Duration: Regular Sched (FT with benefits)
LOCATION: Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney's Office
THE POSITION
The Victim Services Division of the Hennepin County Attorney's Office is seeking an advocate as a Legal Services Specialist to provide culturally specific advocacy and assistance to victims of all felony level, juvenile misdemeanor, and domestic violence cases in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, primarily with the African American community. These victim advocates provide advocacy, support, and referrals for crime victims as their cases move through the criminal justice process.
Location and hours:
This position is currently remote but may be housed in the Domestic Abuse Service Center or in the Adult Prosecution division, both located in the Government Center Building 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. Work hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
About the position type:
This position is a limited-duration, (temporary up to two years), with benefits, with the possibility of extension.
Starting September 1, 2021, all new job offers are conditional based on the candidate being fully vaccinated for COVID-19. “Fully vaccinated” means 14 days after receiving the second dose in a two-dose vaccination series approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a full or emergency-use basis, or 14 days after receiving a single-dose vaccine approved by the FDA on a full or emergency-use basis. After a conditional job offer is made, the candidate must show proof of full vaccination prior to their start date. A COVID-19 vaccination card from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a vaccination record from your doctor’s office or a personal digital vaccination record constitutes sufficient “proof.” The candidate must also attest they are vaccinated by completing a form on the first day of employment. Reasonable accommodations to this vaccination requirement will be considered upon request by a candidate for medical or religious reasons as required by applicable law.
In this position, you will:
- With a focus on the African American communities, will work on homicide, domestic violence, assault, property, and other case types.
- Develop and participate in community engagement, outreach, and education efforts with the African American community, with a particular emphasis on racial disparity reduction.
- Assess client needs and develop appropriate service/safety plans with clients.
- Review case files and interview crime victims and witnesses.
- Consult with prosecuting attorneys and advocate/relay victim perspectives and wishes to ensure compliance with office policy and victims' rights.
- Provide information to victims/witnesses and families regarding the legal system and victims' rights.
- Prepare victims and vulnerable witnesses to participate in the court process and prepare victim impact statements; attend court hearings with victims.
- Dually serve as advocate and liaison between the CAO, victims, and outside agencies.
- Provide follow up services to victims and families including short term counseling, crisis intervention, and ongoing support.; assist victims in the completion of documentation/paperwork for financial assistance including reparations and restitutions; assist clients in pursuing legal remedies through the docketing or conciliation court process; assist victims in return of property taken as evidence.
- Prepare and maintain case records, reports, correspondence, and memorandums.
- Gather and document statistical data on victim demographics.
- Assist victims in applying for Orders for Protection.
Need to have:
- One of the following:
- Bachelor's degree or higher which includes or is supplemented by forty (40) approved upper division quarter college credits in the behavioral/social sciences (e.g., psychology, criminal justice, sociology, etc.) and one or more years of experience working with victims of crime, the justice system, including juvenile and adult court, and community resources.
- Forty (40) or more approved upper division quarter college credits in the behavioral/social sciences (e.g., psychology, criminal justice, sociology, etc.) and two years or more of experience working with victims of crime, the justice system, including juvenile and adult court, and community resources.
Nice to have:
- Experience:
- In advocating for individuals or a population.
- In working with oppressed, underserved, or racially discriminated against communities.
- Providing victims and/or witnesses of crime counseling, referrals, advocacy, and/or trial preparation services,
- In promoting the interests of victims with attorneys, criminal justice personnel, and community agencies, while applying policies, rules, and procedures.
- Knowledge of:
- Dynamics of victimization and the impact of traumatic incidents, such as death, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, incest, and other crimes.
- The criminal justice system.
- Counseling techniques.
- Available system and community resources.
- Understanding of institutional/systemic racism, its impact on communities and individuals, and a desire to eliminate racial disparities and address the trauma caused by institutional/systemic racism.
- Ability to:
- Display cultural competence in working with victims from all cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses; primarily with the African American community.
- Provide trauma informed services.
- Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with victims/witnesses, families, criminal justice professionals, community agencies, and the public.
About the department:
The mission of the County Attorney's Office is to serve justice and public safety through our commitment to ethical prosecution, crime prevention, and through innovative and reasoned client representation.
About Hennepin County:
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align to one or more of our overarching goals -- that Hennepin County residents are healthy, protected and safe, self-reliant, assured due process, and mobile.
Our employees receive a combination of generous benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at www.hennepin.us/employees.
Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the reduction of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.
Your future. Made here.
This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.
This position is internally classified as a Legal Services Specialist.
Click here to view the job classification specification.
Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience.
Final candidates may be required to complete a drug test and/or background check.