Community Justice Worker

Montana Legal Services Association•Billings, MT

14d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Justice Worker (CJW) is responsible for working alongside attorneys to provide legal information, advice, and brief service to clients with problems in the areas of law for which they are trained, which will include public benefits and may include housing, domestic violence, or debt collection. The CJW will be part of a nationwide, community-driven movement to increase access to justice and legal assistance for low-income clients by interviewing/screening applicants and prospective clients for service, drafting documents, routine pleadings, and correspondence, performing basic legal and factual research, coordinating community education about legal topics, and other duties as assigned. The CJW will also coordinate with a cohort of other CJWs throughout the United States.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
Experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking.
Demonstrated commitment to access to justice, community-based advocacy, or the high quality delivery of legal services.
Strong program coordination, project management, and organizational skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners including courts, tribal communities, advocacy organizations, and legal professionals.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Experience working collaboratively and empathetically with diverse groups of colleagues and clients who have varying cultural backgrounds, perspectives, experience, and expertise.
Comfort with data tracking, reporting, and documentation.
Ability to travel, occasionally overnight.
Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Experience in legal services, court systems, or victim advocacy.
Background working with survivors of domestic violence.
Familiarity with Montana Justice and City Court procedures.
Experience with grant-funded program reporting and management.
Understanding of professional conduct rules or legal ethics (training provided).

Responsibilities

Work with attorneys to provide legal advice and brief service to clients who are facing civil legal issues.
Draft documents, routine pleadings, and correspondence for clients.
Perform basic legal and factual research.
Representing client in court hearings and alongside attorneys in court, or as permitted by bar waiver.
Represent clients in administrative proceedings.
Respectfully interview potential applicants for legal services who may be under stress of legal action, elicit factual information from applicants, analyze the type of legal problem presented to determine whether MLSA may assist, or whether a referral is appropriate, and evaluate legal need and financial eligibility of the applicant.
Conduct client intake in accordance with applicable regulations and priorities.
Determine the legal needs and financial eligibility of the applicant for program services.
Accurately enter data and scan and upload documents into MLSA’s case management system.
Input data from on-line or paper applications.
Mail HelpLine correspondence, civil legal education and other literature to individuals.
Coordinate community education about legal topics, including independent presentations and providing assistance with legal clinics.
Participate in a national CJW cohort and attend regular support meetings and annual in-person trainings.
Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor or Director of Advocacy.