Legal Advocate

New Hope Midcoast; Rockland (ME); Hybrid; USD 31,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Retirement program

Health, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

New Hope Midcoast in Rockland, ME is hiring a Legal Advocate to provide direct services including crisis intervention, helpline coverage, safety planning, and legal advocacy across Knox and Waldo Counties.

The Full-time role requires on-call coverage, with shifts dictated by staffing levels. The position includes mileage reimbursement and a strong benefits package, including retirement, health, dental, and vision insurance.

Qualifications

• Relevant bachelor’s degree, or equivalent education/experience
• At least one year of work experience in a social service setting
• Possession of a valid and active Maine driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, and adequate insurance

Responsibilities

• Provide on-call helpline coverage for 24-hour service, including shifts M-F and weekends
• Conduct emergency shelter screenings and crisis support
• Offer legal advocacy and information referrals to victims
• Accompany patients in hospital settings and assist with safety planning

Skills

Active listening

Communication skills

Empathy

Group facilitation

Digital literacy

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Zoom

Job description

We’re Hiring!

New Hope Midcoast is a domestic violence resource center that offers support to people in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties affected by domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. We also provide educational resources to assist our communities in creating a safer, healthier future.

We currently have an opening for a Legal Advocate in our Rockland office. The Legal Advocate provides direct services such as crisis intervention, helpline coverage, safety planning, legal advocacy, accompaniment to patients in a hospital setting, support group facilitation, information and referrals to victims of domestic abuse, and covers all of Knox and Waldo Counties.

We seek a candidate:

• With effective listening, oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of local social service, criminal justice, and health systems
• Respectful, kind, and empathetic
• Group facilitation skills and experience
• Comfortable working with people experiencing substance use disorder, mental health concerns, or who are facing legal challenges
• Comfortable working independently and displaying good judgement with limited day-to-day supervision
• Basic computer skills (working knowledge of Microsoft, Apple, Google suite, and Zoom helpful but not required)

Required Role on Helpline

All advocates are required to provide on-call coverage for our 24-hour helpline including covering M-F and weekend daytime and overnight shifts, on a rotation, with frequency of shifts dictated by staffing and volunteer levels. On-call responsibilities include serving on the front lines to answer helpline calls as they come through, completing emergency shelter screenings, providing support and guidance for on-call volunteers, and seeking consultation from supervisors regarding complex calls. New Hope Midcoast fully trains all employees to fulfill this role, and additional on call pay rates apply. When hiring, we consider if candidates will be a strong fit for our helpline, in addition to the role they are applying for.

Qualifications:

• Relevant bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least one year of work experience in a social service setting
• Possession of a valid and active Maine driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, and adequate insurance

Additional Job Information:

• Full-time (40 hr) position is based in Rockland, ME, with hybrid-remote options available.
• Requires travel throughout our catchment area (with mileage reimbursement)
• Pay range is $22.45-$30.38/hr with excellent benefits as well as mileage reimbursement
• Competitive benefits including a retirement program and health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous time off, including 13 federal holidays, 5 floating personal holidays and personal time off. Additional time off is earned after completion of after-hours and weekend direct service work.

We strongly encourage those with the following identities to apply: Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people with intersecting identities - LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people living with disabilities and others with lived experience being part of marginalized communities

Applications are due by 9am on November 30.