Mitigation Specialist - Homicide Defense Task Force (HDTF) - Brooklyn, NY

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The Legal Aid Society has immediate openings for a Mitigation Specialist with the Homicide Defense Task Force Unit in the Brooklyn office to provide client services to individuals and their families who are charged with homicide offenses in Supreme Court.

While working closely as a member of an interdisciplinary Homicide Defense Task Force whose members include criminal defense attorneys, paralegals, and investigators, the Mitigation Specialist is responsible for providing case management (assessment, treatment planning, referral) and in-court advocacy; establishing and participating in collaborative alliances with various institutional, judicial and governmental entities; providing crisis and supportive counseling services to clients and their family members throughout the entirety of the court case.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct an extensive bio psychosocial assessment of the client utilizing validated instruments when appropriate (BJMHS, TCU II drug screen, and MH Screening Form III)
• Review of all records including, but not limited to, medical, educational, psychiatric, and employment
• Conduct extensive interviews of all collateral contacts for the purpose of informing the assessment as well as the legal strategy of the court case and the development of a treatment plan for the client
• Provide support during witness/expert interviews; provide weekly/regular supportive counseling to client and family members; court advocacy and program linkage; provide support to defense team members
• Provide supportive counseling to client and family around decision making as it relates to the court proceedings
• Coordinate with staff from LAS Prisoner's Rights Project as needed
• The mitigation specialist, in collaboration with defense team members, will identify the need for, and coordinate the utilization of experts
• Assess and coordinate other needs on behalf of the client such as access to benefits, (SSI, Medicaid) and any other concern as it relates to client's well-being during the duration of the case
• Provide pre-entry services to clients who may enter state correctional facilities, including supportive counseling, planning for family needs, (i.e., childcare, benefits) and coordination of support with state Department of Corrections staff to ensure a smooth transition
• Participate in and provide support for, data collection, periodic pilot projects and new initiatives
• Conduct in-person visits to clients in the community and at jails, detention centers or hospitals
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• A MSW degree and proof of New York State Social Work License (LMSW or LCSW) must be provided before final decision of employment
• Strong diagnostic skills and clinical experience working with the following client populations: MICA, physical illnesses and physical disabilities, mental illness, intellectual and developmental delays, and clients with histories of substance abuse
• Experience and/or post graduate training in family systems theory and/or trauma treatment
• Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys and Correctional Personnel
• Experience working in an interdisciplinary team model
• Excellent writing skills with a strong emphasis in persuasive writing
• Flexibility in schedule to accommodate work with family members
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong computer skills

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $81,195 - $120,690

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if, an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.

Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York State to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/find-aid-you-need/new-york-state-loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter

• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.

Brooklyn - Criminal Defense Practice Office