Legal Advocate

SAFE PLACE

Job Title: Legal Advocate

Reports to: Legal Services Program Manager

FLSA Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Schedule: 35 hours per week
Employment Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Pay Range: $24.34 – $26.34 hourly (DOE)

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision; paid holidays and paid time off in accordance with agency policy and procedure; Employee Assistance Program; retirement benefits upon meeting eligibility requirements.

About SafePlace Olympia

SafePlace is a nonprofit organization providing crisis intervention, advocacy, and support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We are committed to anti-oppression work, social justice, and trauma-informed care in all aspects of our services.

Position Summary

The Legal Advocate is responsible for providing confidential, survivor-centered support and advocacy to individuals who have experienced domestic and sexual violence who are seeking civil legal services or who come to SafePlace as drop-in clients. This includes crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, information and referrals, program intake, answering crisis line calls, and providing system navigation support for civil legal or other needs. The advocate also works collaboratively with community partners to improve survivor access to resources and ensures that the safety and legal intervention needs of the client are met. This position requires occasional flexibility to cover phone advocacy needs for crisis line shifts outside of the regular work schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive support to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors of all genders and backgrounds.


• Provide and assist with legal advocacy for survivors pursuing protection orders, restraining orders, anti-harassment orders. May support client pursuing family law issues via referral to appropriate entities.


• Ensure confidentiality and clear boundaries. Adhere to applicable program parameters and compliance measures to provide advocacy only; advocates do not provide legal advice in any circumstance.


• Conduct intakes for the legal program and ongoing advocacy in person with clients, supporting system navigation for legal issues and other resources.


• Assist with safety planning, system navigation, coordinated entry connection and resource referrals.


• Assist clients and coordinate with community partners for client participation in legal clinics.


• Maintain accurate knowledge of relevant community resources.


• Maintain accurate and confidential documentation in accordance with organizational policies and state/federal guidelines.


• Accurately record time worked and partner with manager and teammates to ensure program coverage.


• Accurately log service hours with each client. This position is expected to log a minimum of 18 hours of direct client advocacy per week.


• Collaborate with staff and community partners to improve trauma-informed response systems.


• Participate in regular supervision, team meetings, and ongoing training.

Qualifications

Required:

• Associate’s degree in social work, social services, criminal justice, or related field.


• One year’s experience working with survivors of trauma, including domestic or sexual violence within a legal system context, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Commitment to social justice, anti-oppression, and survivor-centered practices.


• Demonstrated understanding of sexual and domestic violence issues and legal protections.


• Working knowledge of the court system, law enforcement systems, and legal procedures.


• Strong communication and emotional resilience skills.


• Ability to maintain confidentiality and clear boundaries.


• Available for on-call phone advocacy shifts, including evenings and weekends, as needed.


• Completion of 30+ hours of domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy core training (or willingness to complete upon hire).


• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.


• Familiarity with Thurston County resources and social service systems.


• Adherence to SafePlace mission, vision, values and philosophy.

Preferred:

• Fluency in a second language (especially Spanish, ASL, or other commonly spoken languages in Thurston County).


• CPR/First Aid certification.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the following interpersonal skills:

• Brings and maintains high level of enthusiasm and employee engagement to the
  
  
  
  • Ability to respond to crisis, set limits and maintain healthy
  
  
  • Ability to collaborate and manage issues and conflicts with confidentiality, fairness, and respect for a diverse client base and
  
  
  • Ability to maintain a positive attitude in a fast-paced work
  
  
  
  


• Flexibility and the ability to accommodate changing conditions, client needs, and the business needs of the program and agency.


• Ability to express and enforce appropriate ethical boundaries.


• Engages with supervisor, teammates, staff, volunteers, and clients in a positive


• Embraces the following SafePlace values in all interactions with staff, volunteers, and clients:


• Quality – Employee provides quality programs and services for our clients, helping to maintain the best facilities we can provide, be part of the finest staff we can hire and promote a positive atmosphere for


• Respect – Employee recognizes that the foundation for our relationships with others is respect for individual rights and


• Self-Care – The Employee recognizes the need for self-care as a priority for themselves, clients, and other


• Diversity - Employee values, acknowledges, and integrates diversity into their role at SafePlace. Employee is dedicated to serving the diverse cultures in our community and working to mirror that diversity in our staff and


• Integrity - Employee endeavors to build relationships with clients, community members and each other based on integrity and honesty.


• Confidentiality - Employee will hold client and personnel information in the strictest of confidence creating a culture of openness and

Reasoning, Math, and Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the following reasoning abilities:

• Ability to identify and solve problems and deal with a variety of variables. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule


• Ability to identify gaps in standardized procedures and formulate proposed


• Ability to accurately add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and


• Ability to compile statistics and report them in an understandable


• Basic computer skills using Office 365


• Ability to navigate complex systems and perform research into issues, rules, practices and protocols.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• SafePlace initial ACT training certification.


• Valid driver’s license and current automobile liability


• CPR/First aid training certifications


• Language Proficiency Certification preferred. (Must pass written language proficiency test)

Training Requirements

Employee is required to complete the initial SafePlace ACT training and on-the-job phone advocacy training. Employee must attend 20 hours of on-going direct service training a year, which must include 15 hours advocacy and 12 hours of sexual assault training, and naloxone training.

Physical Demands

The 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 accommodation 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 talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Functional Area Breakdown with Percentages

Function

Estimated % of Time

Description

Direct Services

80%

Direct service delivery to DV/SA survivors that includes drop-in advocacy, advocacy off-site at partner locations, system navigation and advocacy and back up support for education and outreach activities. Includes afterhours SARP response.

Community Engagement & Systems Advocacy

10%

Representing SafePlace at relevant task forces and partner meetings, maintaining systems advocacy relationships, and community collaboration.

Administrative Oversight & Reporting

5%

Data tracking (InfoNet), create and maintain client files, contribute to other data or reports

Training & Professional Development

5%

Participating in required training and ongoing professional development related to advocacy, management, and compliance.

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Additional Requirements:
Employment is contingent upon agreement with the SafePlace Philosophy Statement and successful completion of a Washington State Patrol and federal fingerprint criminal background check.

Forms Required Upon Interview Invitation:

• 
  Criminal History Questionnaire
  
  


• 
  Criminal Background Check Disclosure
  
  


• Identifying Information for Criminal Background Check
  
  

SafePlace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or any other status protected by law.

Code of Ethics and Integrity

At SafePlace, we are committed to fostering a culture of ethics, accountability, and integrity. All employees, volunteers, and representatives are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct in their professional duties and interactions.

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to uphold the SafePlace Code of Ethics and Integrity, which includes, but is not limited to:

• Acting with honesty, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of my work.


• Maintaining client and organizational confidentiality in accordance with policy and law.


• Treating clients, colleagues, and community partners with dignity, respect, and cultural sensitivity.


• Adhering to professional boundaries and avoiding conflicts of interest.


• Complying with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.


• Reporting concerns or violations of ethics or integrity through appropriate channels without fear of retaliation.

Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

SafePlace is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and all other protected characteristics under federal, state, and local laws. As part of our affirmative action efforts, we actively seek and welcome applicants from historically underrepresented communities.

At-Will Employment Disclaimer

Employment at SafePlace is “at-will.” This means that either the employee or SafePlace may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, unless otherwise stated in a written agreement signed by an authorized representative of the organization. Nothing in this acknowledgment or any SafePlace policy shall be construed to alter the at-will nature of employment.