Organization Overview: Lakeshore Legal Aid serves low-income people, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in a holistic manner to address clients’ legal issues and improve our communities. Lakeshore provides free direct legal representation in southeast Michigan and the thumb and client intake, advice, and brief legal services throughout Michigan via our attorney-staffed hotline. Our practice areas include housing, family, consumer, elder, education, and public benefits law.
Position Overview: The Systemic Advocacy office provides comprehensive legal services to eligible clients or client groups in civil cases to address systemic problems confronting the poverty community through a racial justice lens. The Deputy Director reports to the Systemic Advocacy Director and is responsible for supporting the organization’s systemic advocacy efforts, advancing community advocacy, and developing strategic non-legal priorities of the Systemic Advocacy Department such as the development of interdisciplinary legal services or increasing efforts to meet the needs of a particular client constituency. All Lakeshore Legal Aid Staff treat clients, co-workers, and all others who interact with Lakeshore Legal Aid with dignity and respect.
General Task Areas:
•Direct interdisciplinary legal services/community advocacy initiatives across Lakeshore Legal Aid with a systemic advocacy lens.
•Design, implement, and oversee best practices in interdisciplinary legal services.
•Lead grant reporting and accountability for major funders of Community Advocacy program.
•Supervise Community Advocacy Supervisor who leads a team of Community Advocates providing crisis intervention, emotional support, life skills planning and advocacy in a trauma informed, holistic, and client-centered manner.
•Supervise and participate in collaboration with legal teams across the agency who have a Community Advocate partnering with their legal staff to support interdisciplinary legal services across Lakeshore Legal Aid.
•Promote productive professional relationships between Community Advocates and legal teams.
•Ensure client services are delivered in compliance with funding requirements, including that services are provided under the appropriate funding for the client demographic.
•Perform other work-related duties as assigned by the supervising attorney, a director, CEO, or a CEO designee.
Qualifications:
•Graduated from a CSWE accredited Master’s Social Work program.
•Current Michigan Macro Social Work License required.
•3 years’ experience providing direct supervision to social workers, advocates, or other human services staff.
•7 years’ experience advocating with and on behalf of clients from the poverty community, seniors and survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, or human trafficking.
•7 years’ experience leading multidisciplinary community change initiatives, including within legal services.
•Effective oral and written communication skills.
•Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Salary
Starting annual salary for a Systemic Advocacy Deputy Director ranges from $90,000, and is commensurate with qualifications and includes excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability
To apply, submit your cover letter and resume at our website www.lakeshorelegalaid.org
** Do not delay. Applications accepted until 5 pm, March 22, 2024, or until the position is filled. **
LLA values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.
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