Job details

Mitigation Specialist – MICA Unit

The Mitigation Specialist position will work closely with the MICA attorney, and is responsible for assessment, treatment planning, referral, in-court advocacy, case management services for clients; conducting informational and training seminars; establishing and participating in collaborative alliances with various institutional, communications and governmental entities; coordinating and supervising the work of social work interns, and providing transitional and crisis counseling to Project clients. Mitigation Specialists are responsible for maintaining paper and computerized records about clients’ progress, some of which will be used to prepare reports for the funding agency.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Interview clients, and complete psychosocial and risk assessments using validated instruments
Provide crisis intervention, brief treatment, or short term counseling services to individuals who are being followed in mental health court
Identify and interview collateral sources of information. Collateral interviews are done with family members, friends, teachers, social workers, community members, and others connected to the client
Request, review, and analyze life history records (e. school, medical, psychiatric) in order to document specific arguments within written reports
Develop casework plans in conjunction with the MICA attorney, develop alternative sentencing plans, provide advocacy in court, and provide program linkage
Assess a client’s readiness for treatment and make referrals to substance abuse treatment, domestic violence, mental health counseling, shelters, etc
Provide re-entry planning and assistance
Testify in court
Conduct trainings for LAS staff and interns
Provide education and advocacy to community providers
Conduct outreach and training for community based providers and criminal justice personnel
Participate in the development and ongoing practice of specialty court parts
Serve as expert consultant to criminal justice system and community providers regarding: direct court advocacy, law reform, and re-entry for people with severe mental illness
Other duties as assigned

Strong diagnostic skills and experience working with clients with the following special needs: mental illness and chemical addiction, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, disabilities, and histories of substance use
Strong interest in working with clients with mental illness and chemical addiction and their families
Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys and Correctional Personnel
Ability to negotiate with community based treatment centers
Excellent written and oral communications skills
Excellent organizational skills
Strong computer skills
Ability to work within a team model
A MSW degree and NYS certification in social work (LMSW or LCSW)

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: $72,964 to $101,161

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.

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.

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.