CLIENT MITIGATION SPECIALIST

Washtenaw County Health Department; Michigan; On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Washtenaw County Health Department seeks a dedicated staff member to provide direct services to Public Defender's Office clients. Responsibilities include mitigation reporting, case management, and referrals to housing, employment, and benefits services.

The role involves interviewing clients, coordinating with attorneys, and documenting case progress to support sentencing and legal outcomes. A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required, with strong writing and organizational skills

Qualifications

• Strong interest in serving the indigent criminally accused.
• Superior writing and presentation skills; ability to produce clear, concise, and effective materials in multiple formats and for multiple audiences.
• Excellent research and document gathering skills.
• Detailed knowledge of court processes and requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Capability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups.
• Excellent office administrative practices and procedures, including computer operations, software applications, and standard office equipment.
• Understanding of policies, procedures, rules, and regulations related to County programs or resources.
• Capacity to maintain timely and accurate records and documentation of work.

Responsibilities

• Write mitigation letters and reports for use in plea negotiations and at sentencing.
• Build relationships with and conduct interviews with clients to understand their challenges, priorities, and life circumstances, as well as identify potential issues.
• Partner with attorneys to compose persuasive narrative reports, support arguments, and provide relevant information and records.
• Connect clients to wraparound services, including but not limited to, housing, employment, social and medical benefits, and treatment needs.
• Coordinate with legal and social service teams to facilitate collaboration and communication on client cases.
• Define service goals for each client case and support clients in reaching their stated goals.
• Prepare reports and maintain case notes for attorneys and staff.
• Maintain timely documentation, including case plans and service statistics.

Skills

Superior writing

Research skills

Court processes

Team collaboration

Relationship building

Office administration

Policy understanding

Documentation accuracy

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Office software

Job description

INTERNAL UNION APPLICANTS WILL BE GIVEN FIRST CONSIDERATION FOR UNION POSITIONS

Under the direct supervision of a higher classified employee, this position provides direct services to clients of the Public Defender's Office. Clients include adults and children involved with the criminal justice system, juvenile justice system, and child welfare system. Services encompass mitigation reporting, brief case management, and referrals to appropriate services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Write mitigation letters and reports for use in plea negotiations and at sentencing.
• Build relationships with and conduct interviews with clients to understand their challenges, priorities, and life circumstances, as well as identify potential issues.
• Partner with attorneys to compose persuasive narrative reports, support arguments, and provide relevant information and records.
• Connect clients to wraparound services, including but not limited to, housing, employment, social and medical benefits, and treatment needs.
• Coordinate with legal and social service teams to facilitate collaboration and communication on client cases.
• Define service goals for each client case and support clients in reaching their stated goals.
• Prepare reports and maintain case notes for attorneys and staff.
• Maintain timely documentation, including case plans and service statistics.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:

• Strong interest in serving the indigent criminally accused.
• Superior writing and presentation skills; ability to produce clear, concise, and effective materials in multiple formats and for multiple audiences.
• Excellent research and document gathering skills.
• Detailed knowledge of court processes and requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Capability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups.
• Excellent office administrative practices and procedures, including computer operations, software applications, and standard office equipment.
• Understanding of policies, procedures, rules, and regulations related to County programs or resources.
• Capacity to maintain timely and accurate records and documentation of work.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Social work license preferred but not required. Limited license holders must achieve full licensure within two years of hire.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Duties require sufficient mobility to work in a normal office setting and use standard office equipment including a computer, vision to read printed materials and a computer monitor and hearing and speech sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone.

These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

EDUCATION

Possession of a's bachelor's degree or equivalent skills/experience.

EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience in providing services working with clients, preferably those involved in the legal system.

This class description intends to identify the major duties and requirements of the job and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related duties other than those outlined above and may be required to specific job-related knowledge for successful job performance.