The Legal Aid Society has an opening for a Mitigation Specialist in its Criminal Appeals Bureau. CAB handles all aspects of post-conviction practice on behalf of sentenced criminal defendants. The Criminal Defense Practice has an immediate opening for one Mitigation Specialist based in the CAB unit to provide client services, for post-conviction sex offender cases as well as other post-conviction cases. The Mitigation Specialist, as determined by the volume and nature of cases, will serve in a variety of capacities. The Mitigation Specialist is responsible for assessment, treatment planning, referral, and in-court advocacy for clients at SORA (Sex Offender Rehabilitation Act) hearings, or as part of 168-o petitions, in which LAS petitions the court to reduce the reporting and public notification requirements for a client maintaining successfully in the community. The Mitigation Specialist will interview clients and may evaluate them with the use of standardized assessment tools, including the Static-99 R, interview family and collateral sources, treatment providers, and review records, to produce written mitigation reports for the court. The Mitigation Specialist will meet regularly with individual attorneys, as well as the attorney team handling SORA/168-o cases to establish best practices and plan strategies on behalf of clients.The Mitigation Specialist will review records, interview clients, treatment providers, family members and other collateral sources, and prepare written mitigation reports on behalf of other CAB clients requiring such services. Such clients include those found eligible for resentencing. Mitigation reports may be advocating for, but not limited to, Youthful Offender Treatment Status, shorter sentences, resentencing based on immigration consequences and vacating convictions for victims of sex trafficking who have been convicted of prostitution-related offenses, and resentencing based on the Domestic Violence Survivor's Justice Act (DVSJA). The Mitigation Specialist will also work with clients to prepare for the parole board with assistance from CAB's Parole Advocacy Project.The Mitigation Specialist will work closely with the CAB attorneys handling cases involving clients, some returning to the community after lengthy periods of incarceration and some with mental illness, who require re-entry assistance, parole advocacy, and support setting up services and benefits in the community. The Mitigation Specialist may be asked to conduct informational and training seminars; establish and participate in collaborative alliances with various institutional, communications and governmental entities; and provide transitional and crisis counseling to CAB clients and their families. At times, the mitigation specialist may be called upon to testify in court. Participate in and provide support for, data collection, periodic pilot projects and new initiatives.ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Interview clients, and complete assessments using validated instruments
- Provide crisis intervention, supportive counseling and case management services to clients as needed
- Identify and interview collateral sources of information. Collateral interviews are done with family members, friends, teachers, social workers, community members, and others connected to the client
- Request, review, and analyze life history records (e. school, medical, psychiatric) in order to document specific arguments within written reports
- Prepare written advocacy for Courts and other City and State agencies
- Assess a client's readiness for treatment and make referrals to treatment programs
- Provide re-entry planning and support
- Testify in court
- Conduct trainings for LAS staff and interns
- Provide education and advocacy to community providers
- Other duties as assigned
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
- An MSW degree and New York State (NYS) certification in social work (LMSW or LCSW) required. Proof of NYS Social Work License must be provided before final decision of employment
- Excellent diagnostic skills and experience working with clients with the following special needs: mental illness and chemical addiction, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, disabilities, and histories of substance use
- Strong interest in working with clients with long incarceration histories
- Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys and Correctional Personnel
- Ability to negotiate with community-based treatment centers
- Excellent report writing and oral communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Excellent computer skills
- Ability to work within a team model
REQUIRED DOCUMENTSPlease submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.
SALARY TRANSPARENCYThe 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 - $120,690SALARY AND BENEFITSThe 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 SocietyHIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESSThe 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.govhesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programsOUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSIONThe leadership of 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, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us. WORK AUTHORIZATIONAll 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. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email ...@legal-aid.org.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.