Violent Crime Initiative Legal Coordinator

Profile

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: The legal coordinator for VCI will assist with coordination of program and court logistics and services for both juvenile and adult court cases. This position works with the VCI court team to carry out the functions of the initiative with the goals discussed above. This is not an entry level position and candidates must have one year experience in a similar paid position.

Job Requirements: Valid driver’s license and ability to drive a personal and company car are required. Philadelphia residency or becoming a Philadelphia resident within 3 months is required. Bachelor’s degree required. Candidates must have experience working with Black identifying teenagers and young adults within the legal system; candidates should be detail oriented, have life and professional experience in social work, human services, and providing intensive wrap around support; a strong interest in social justice and the ability to grasp concepts around violence, race, and systems, as well as the ability to stand up against systems and advocate for the best interest of young people; excellent verbal and written communication skills; and excellent time management and organizational skills. Candidates must have the ability to work well independently and have the confidence and skills to manage their time effectively and be action oriented. 

Those who identify racially or ethnically as Black or Brown and have been personally impacted by the criminal justice system or violence (directly or indirectly) are strongly encouraged to apply.Staff must approach youth communication with cultural humility, recognizing that urban dialect and vernacular are valid and legitimate forms of expression. Correcting, redirecting, or shaming a young person's natural way of speaking is not acceptable and is not aligned with YEAH's values. Candidates are expected to understand the power dynamics at play when adults police youth language, and to apply a trauma-informed lens that affirms rather than diminishes how young people express themselves. Youth are the experts of their own lives and that includes how they communicate. Harmful language, however, is never exempt, staff are expected to address and redirect it.

This position requires the ability to travel locally by SEPTA and or company vehicles. Candidates must be able to sit for extended periods of time in courtrooms and office settings, walk or stand for periods of time during community outreach and field work, and navigate various facilities including detention centers, schools, and community sites.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and build healthy, trusting relationships with teens and young adults and empower them to advocate for their own needs.

• Obtaining court dockets and other documents, ensuring all court information is listed in the database and on shared calendars. 

• Assist with the processing of restitution and bail payments as needed. 

• Ensuring all contact information for clients is up to date in the database. 

• Make phone calls to clients and families to give updates as needed. 

• Stand in for attorneys as needed in juvenile or adult court. 

• Identifying which court dates are status listings vs trials vs continuances to assist with scheduling and appearances. 

• Attending both juvenile and adult court hearings for note taking, advocacy, and support to staff and young people as needed.

• Be a liaison to systems (probation, juvenile detention, DHS etc. to ensure streamlined communication.

• Assist young people with minimal case management needs as needed (vital documents, transportation to court etc.).

• Schedule behavioral health and drug and alcohol evaluations for young people as needed for court.

• Participating in inter-agency meetings that impact clients and legislative work. 

• Maintain contact with PO’s, judges, lawyers, therapists, mental health providers etc. related to providing case management and advocacy for young people and ensuring quality coordination of wrap-around services. 

• Coordinate state placement and legal visits as needed. 

• Support VCI staff as needed with administrative, mitigation, and research tasks.

• Monitor for legislative tracking related to the juvenile and adult legal system.

• Maintain documentation and utilize a case management database to provide qualitative updates on progress.

• Running reports from the database related to data, outcomes, statistics. 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Emails are expected to respond to emails within 24 business hours.

• Assist with community outreach efforts 

• Attend and participate in community events

• All other duties assigned

Company info

YEAH PHILLY