Mitigation Specialist (Manhattan) - Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Program (AID) - New York, NY

The Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Practice has one opening for a Mitigation Specialist in the Manhattan office of the Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Program. The Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Program specializes in working with adolescents who are charged as adults in criminal and Supreme court matters. These client's range in age from 13 to 18 years old and often have experienced a multitude of traumas including childhood neglect and abuse, long term poverty, educational disruptions, mental illness, substance abuse, physical illness, and developmental and intellectual disabilities. These experiences not only impact their functioning level, but also provide mitigating circumstances that must be incorporated in the defense advocacy. The Mitigation Specialist works directly with an assigned AID attorney to strategize a plan that incorporates both legal and therapeutic approaches to mitigate the court case and meet the individualized needs of the adolescent client. The Mitigation Specialist will interact with the client as well as family members, friends, school personnel, service providers, and community members, among others. The Mitigation Specialist is also an integral part of the process in advocating for removal to family court.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interview clients, and complete psychosocial and risk assessments using validated instruments
• Provide crisis intervention, brief treatment, or short-term counseling to adolescents and their families
• Identify and interview collateral sources of Collateral interviews are done with family members, friends,teachers, social workers, community members, and others connected to the client
• Assess a client's readiness for treatment and/or programming and make appropriate referrals for mental health, family interventions, ATIs, drug programs, violence interrupters, etc
• Develop relationships with school partners to support in educational advocacy efforts comprised of records request/review, IEP planning meetings, suspension hearings, school transfers, alternative education programs, etc
• Provide written and/or oral support for the following: EC Motions in support of removal of cases to family court, pre-pleading and pre-sentencing memoranda for presentation to court and the prosecution, and bail applications
• Help clients, families and caregivers navigate the child welfare system (Administration for Children's Services) and the New York City Department of Education
• Make home visits and attend meetings at schools, jails, and detention centers
• Testify in court
• Gather and analyze the data to evaluate the impact of social work services with our client population
• Conduct training for LAS staff, social work interns, treatment providers, and criminal justice personnel
• Participate in the development and ongoing practice of specialty court parts
• Act as an expert social work consultant to the stakeholders in the criminal justice system and community providers regarding court advocacy, law reform, and re-entry
• Other duties as assigned

• An MSW degree and New York State (NYS) certification in social work (LMSW or LCSW). Proof of NYS Social Work License must be provided before final decision of employment
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong interest in and experience working with adolescent clients and family members with the following special needs: mental illness and chemical addiction, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, histories of family fracture and dysfunction, etc
• Familiarity with residential treatment centers, day treatment programs, and specialized schools that serve adolescents
• Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys, and Correctional Personnel
• Ability to negotiate with community-based organizations with the goal of increasing access for our clients to receive supportive services
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills. Candidate must be able to manage a diverse caseload and prioritize tasks
• Proficient in using Microsoft 365
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The 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 - $120,690

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The 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 Society

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The 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.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The 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 AUTHORIZATION

All 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 jobpostquestions@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.

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover Letter
• Resume