Legal Advocate

Rosie’s Place was founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in the United States. Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. 

Over the years, we have become much more than a shelter. We are a multi-service community center that not only provides meals and shelter but also creates answers for thousands of women a year through wide-ranging support, housing and education services. Rosie’s Place relies on the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporations and does not accept any city, state or federal funding.

OPPORTUNITY

The Legal Program at Rosie’s Place aims to increase access to holistic legal support to our guests by providing free, confidential, walk-in and virtual legal consultation clinics, in conjunction with other Rosie’s Place programming where appropriate. The Legal Advocate ensures that legal consultations are available to all women coming to Rosie’s Place, without regard for income or immigration status and provide guests an opportunity to identify legal issues and options, then connect with longer term legal assistance when available. Under the supervision of the Director of Legal Programs, the Legal Advocate provides services that are in line with the core values and mission of Rosie’s Place.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Individual Guest Services:

• Establish and cultivate supportive and trusting relationships with guests.
• Facilitate guest sign up and intake for legal consultations:
• Remote: Maintain Legal Helpline by checking for messages, returning calls to guests, identify and screen for legal needs, facilitate referrals to Rosie’s Place community partners and other resources, and providing direct advocacy where appropriate.
• In person: Greet guests for daily legal clinic sign up, identify and screen for legal (and non-legal) issues, assist guests with any intake materials, manage guest expectations, and facilitate attorney consultations.
• Conduct guest-centered, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed legal advocacy consultations (remote or in person) and provide legal information and referral to guests when appropriate.
• Accompany and advocate for guest at places like housing court, homeless court, DTA office, housing offices, and/or shelters.
• Assist guests with researching laws and procedure, obtaining documents, communicating with third parties, coordinating both legal and non-legal referrals.
• Serve as a liaison between guest and any attorney providing legal assistance in collaboration with Legal Program.
• Support guests by collaborating with other Rosie’s Place programs to help guest meet their immediate and longer-term needs.
• Respond to guest conflicts and emergencies in a respectful, safe manner and follow all emergency protocols.

Education and Outreach:

• Provide community education as assigned; coordinate trainings with other community agencies.
• Assist coordination of legal trainings for Rosie’s Place staff.
• Maintain Legal Program bulletin board at 889 Harrison Avenue.
• Create and execute outreach activities for guests as assigned.

Program Administration:

• Manage daily consultation schedule when Director of Legal Programs is not available.
• Communicate to Rosie’s Place staff and guests any changes to the Legal Program schedule.
• Maintain current and accurate records of service, updating database information, and assisting in Legal Program quarterly reports.
• Create and maintain data collection for each legal clinic.
• Consult with supervisor in weekly meetings about guest concerns, workload management, professional development, and other areas.
• Provide administrative support as needed – copying, scanning, filing, and mailing.

Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Legal Programs

QUALIFICATIONS

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below:

• Ability to speak Spanish and/or Haitian Creole in addition to English strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or 2-4 years of experience working with people who have a history of trauma, homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, and domestic or sexual abuse.
• Familiarity with Massachusetts legal system.
• Knowledge of community resources in and around Boston in housing support, basic benefits systems, and free legal services.
• Strong commitment to social justice and the mission of Rosie’s Place.
• Understanding of and commitment to addressing issues affecting low-income guests, particularly in utilizing the legal system to meet their needs.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise sound judgement and think quickly on your feet.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to work well and effectively communicate with other department employees.
• Strong customer service mindset with effective and diplomatic, yet supportive communication style.
• Dependable, flexible and able to work effectively in a collaborative and busy department.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

WORK EXPECTATIONS

We are a hands-on team and seek employees who are passionate about our work and service to our community. The Legal Advocate is expected to work onsite at Rosie’s Place during their work week and engage regularly with staff, guests, and volunteers. While this position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, flexibility with days on-site is required to fulfill work obligations and to take part in organization meetings, trainings and events. The position requires occasional travel to community locations.

We continue to adapt to safety protocols related to COVID-19 as we understand them, and all employees must follow our safety protocols. Among these protocols, we require all employees to be up to date with their COVID vaccinations and undergo regular COVID testing and submit results. Requests for medical or religious exemptions from the COVID vaccination are considered. Masks are required to be worn on all Rosie’s Place properties at all times.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The starting salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $52,000-$65,000, commensurate with experience.

Rosie’s Place offers a robust benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, pension contributions, paid vacation, and more.

HOW TO APPLY

A resume and cover letter are required to apply. Please submit applications through Rosie’s Place’s online portal.   

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

At Rosie's Place, we believe diversity, equity and inclusion are core components of justice. We commit to acting on a daily basis to dismantle injustice to ensure that opportunities and equitable outcomes are available to all members of our community regardless of individual characteristics including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation or perceived ability.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We value diversity in our workplace and strongly encourages applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. We are an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.