Mitigation Specialist, Pre-Arraignment Project - New York, NY

The Criminal Practice has an opening for one social work mitigation specialist in the Manhattan Office. The Mitigation Specialist will be part of the Pre-Arraignment Project Team operating in the New York County criminal courthouse. The Mitigation Specialist in this role collaborates with court and legal staff to identify, assess, and represent individuals facing criminal charges. The Pre-Arraignment Project's Mitigation Specialist works closely with the arraignmentattorneys, PPT members, judges, and court staff to screen, assess and address the needs of attorney referred clients while securing the least restrictive legal status for them. The Mitigation Specialist will identify supportive services, make referrals and establish connections to provide clients with stability in the community during their legal case. The Pre- Arraignment Project's Mitigation specialist also develops bail applications, provides written and oral advocacy, engages in crisis management and creates treatment plans to facilitate clients' successful release.

• Identify and screen LAS clients prior to arraignment for mental health and community service needs
• Interview and assess client and client's family's requests for services
• Assist with case preparation for arraignment phase of court case
• Advocate in court on behalf of clients to judges and court personnel
• Coordinate and collaborate with external community service providers
• Identify and review collateral sources of information, including interviewing family members, friends, teachers, social workers, community members, and others; and requesting andreviewing client records (i.e. educational, medical, psychiatric) to document specific arguments in court
• Participate in client and client family outreach efforts
• Participate in and provide support for data collection, periodic pilot projects and new initiatives
• Maintain a caseload
• Conduct the Pre-Arraignment Project intakes, e. detailed bio-psycho-social assessment
• Crisis intervention, brief treatment, or short-term counseling may also be performed
• Complete treatment plans and bail packages to advocate for the release of individuals who are being detained pretrial in New York City jails
• Present to LAS staff and interns on behalf of the Pre-Arraignment Project
• Other duties as The position will at times be providing support and coverage for the mitigation specialist from the Bronx Pre-Arraignment team

• Strong diagnostic skills with experience working with clients with the following special needs: dual/multiplediagnoses, medical conditions, physical disabilities, mental illness, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, housing issues, and clients with histories of substance abuse
• Ability to interface with judges, assistant district attorneys and correctional
• Ability to negotiate with community-based treatment providers
• Ability to quickly develop treatment plans
• Strong organizational and court advocacy skills
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to work within a team model and an interest in research
• Candidates must have an MSW degree and be licensed by New York State (LMSW or LCSW)

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent oncandidate 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

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This positionallows 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

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 strongprofessional 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.

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a workvisa 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.)

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-heldsense 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