Staff Attorney

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Harrisburg, Northern (Dauphin County, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence is seeking a Staff Attorney to implement and support PA Safe Law, the statewide legal helpline and information project for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, dating violence, and other crimes.

The Staff Attorney will apply legal expertise to support survivors and work to expand access to civil legal services across Pennsylvania, coordinating legal information and referrals via the helpline and collaborating with partners

Qualifications

• Provide legal information, referrals, and technical assistance through PCADV’s Legal Helpline for survivors of domestic violence.
• Monitor and respond to the Legal Helpline during business hours via phone, e‑mail, and chat platforms.
• Collaborate with internal and external colleagues and allies to expand statewide access to civil legal information and services for crime victims.
• Develop public policy positions, regulations and briefs on civil and criminal legal issues facing victims of domestic violence.
• Coordinate statewide DVAN meetings to provide support for attorneys expanding survivors’ access to justice.
• Attend PCADV staff and department meetings and participate in required in-service training.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal information and referrals to survivors via the Legal Helpline.
• Support and participate in divorce clinics as assigned.
• Develop and publish electronic resources for victims and civil attorneys on PCADV platforms.

Job description

Do you have a passion for social justice and improving systems’ responses to victims of domestic violence? Are you someone who is invested in our vision that domestic violence can and must come to an end for the next generation? If this describes you, please read on…
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) is dedicated to reducing, preventing, and educating the community about domestic violence. We are currently seeking an Staff Attorney. This position reports to the Legal Services Director.

STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR STAFF

At PCADV, we embrace diversity and our collective strength. We believe in creating a community where systems support all so everyone can thrive. PCADV is committed to actively growing and developing for all who serve within the organization. We are passionate about building and sustaining fair working and learning environments for all employees. To sustain a culture of accountability, every PCADV employee is responsible for the following behaviors and values:

• Accountability – we improve our organizational culture by engaging in healthy and constructive feedback behaviors
• Celebrate – we acknowledge and celebrate our diversity through active understanding and respect. Everyone associated with PCADV is expected to engage in allyship behaviors, make connections, challenge stereotypes, and address incidents of unconscious bias
• Engage – we engage each other by providing tools for success, get to know others, allow others to grow, recognize the efforts of others, encourage teamwork through reciprocity with acts of kindness. We center relationship building in our work as colleagues.
• Identifying challenges and problem solving – we identify gaps in communication, foster an environment of open and direct communication without repercussion, allow others to be and feel heard, define boundaries for awareness and safety and seek solutions to problems big and small.
• Discovering – we commit to process discovery by highlighting opportunities, finding information, and measuring outcomes of organizational and team goals.

Position Summary:

The Staff Attorney, part of the PCADV Legal Services Department, implements and supports
PA Safe Law, PCADV’s statewide legal helpline and information project for survivors of
domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, dating violence, and other crimes. The Staff
Attorney applies legal expertise and effective strategies to support survivors. This role also
works to expand access to civil legal services across Pennsylvania.

• Provide legal information, referrals, and technical assistance through PCADV’s Legal
• Helpline for survivors of domestic violence; This includes: monitoring and responding
• to the Legal Helpline during business hours via phone, e‑mail, and chat platforms, as
• well as supporting and participating in divorce clinics as assigned
• Collaborate with internal and external colleagues and allies in the development of
  community partnerships to create greater statewide access to civil legal information,
  assistance, and representation for crime victims
• Participate in the development of public policy legislation, regulations and rules, legal
  position papers, briefs, and protocols on domestic violence
• Coordinate and facilitate five annual statewide Domestic Violence Attorneys’ Network
  (DVAN) meetings to provide technical assistance, collaboration, and support for
  attorneys working to expand survivors’ access to justice through the civil legal system
• Participate in the development and publication of papers, briefs, memos and technical
  assistance packets on prioritized issues related to civil and criminal legal issues facing
  victims of domestic violence in a clear, concise, and relevant manner
• Participate in the publication of electronic resources for victims and civil attorneys,
  including electronic newsletters, email updates and information for posting to the
  PCADV website and/or the Legal Helpline website
• Develop and regularly update a statewide referral network of legal and community
  resources, including civil legal aid, domestic violence programs, and other victim
  service providers for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, dating
  violence, and other crimes
• Attend and participate in meetings of the Legal Department, Program Services
  Department, PCADV staff meetings and in-service training as required
• Perform other duties as assigned
  *Note: This position is mostly remote. Facilitation of some in-person responsibilities may be required. This position requires that the employee maintain residency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.