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LIVE STREAM

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION, 8/19/23

LIVE STREAM

Social Worker, Legal Aid Society- Louisville, KY

Purpose of the job: Provide advice, support, and community resources to low-income individuals served by Legal Aid Society (LAS).

Reports to Senior Attorney or other designated manager.

Mission and Vision: The mission of the Legal Aid Society (LAS) is to pursue justice for people in poverty. LAS exists to serve and partner with the diverse Kentucky communities in which our clients reside – seeking to advocate for justice, remove barriers to access to the justice system, and fight for the most vulnerable in our community. Justice for all is our vision and is the center of all that we do.

Location: The Legal Aid Society serves fifteen Kentucky counties: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Washington. Our clients live in rural, urban, and suburban areas.

Services: LAS team members serve the fifteen-county region providing a full array of free civil legal services, which address critical civil legal needs related to our clients’ safety, stability, and health. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The Legal Aid Society values diversity of thought, culture, and background in its workforce to serve a diverse community. We support the principles of equal opportunity, diversity, equity, inclusion, and non-discrimination. LAS does not discriminate against any employee, client, or guest on the basis of age, color, disability, sex, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, or military or Veteran’s status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law.

Work Environment: Work is performed in the office setting, in the community, and remotely, depending upon the tasks of the job, needs of the agency, and the needs of the client community we serve. The Legal Aid Society’s primary office is located in Louisville, Kentucky.

Essential job functions:

  1. Assist as a member of LAS’s support professional team.
  2. Assist clients and their families in accessing necessary supportive services to enhance civil legal assistance through comprehensive case management services.
  3. Provide appropriate referrals and information about community service providers.
  4. Maintain accurate and complete case files. Prepare reports and complete forms required by program policies.
  5. Interview clients, assess legal and social work problems, and determine their eligibility for service.
  6. Advise on and connect to appropriate community resources.
  7. Advise clients on resources and processes related to LAS services. Provide support to clients as they are served by LAS and follow up as appropriate.
  8. Design and implement community education activities, including workshops, pamphlets, and presentations to community groups.
  9. Improve skills and knowledge of legal issues and resources by regularly reading material and participating in training events.
  10. Become familiar with and develop working relationships with social service agencies and governmental agencies that offer services to Legal Aid-eligible clients.
  11. Work with LAS employees and volunteers to provide support to clients and education to staff on services that are available through the social worker and other community partners.
  12. Work with clients and their families to address social determinants of health, mitigate impacts of violence, substance abuse, poverty and other adverse issues, in order to provide referrals and support that increases clients’ safety, stability and health.
  13. Support clients in identifying and accomplishing goals through planning and referrals to LAS attorneys and appropriate external agencies.
  14. Assist LAS attorneys and paralegals to more effectively and efficiently work with clients in a trauma-informed and holistic manner.
  15. Be part of the overall LAS team, always looking to identify ways that LAS can serve its client community and create positive, sustainable outcomes in civil legal issues.
  16. Participate in program activities such as case reviews, unit meetings, and staff meetings. Participate in statewide activities, including coalitions and training events.
  17. Perform other duties commensurate with duties outlined above at the discretion of your supervisor.

Qualifications

  1. Must have demonstrable commitment to understanding and addressing issues of low-income constituents.
  2. Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and/or comparable work experience.
  3. Must have skills to use office technologies, including case management software.
  4. Must have excellent interviewing and client counseling skills and have a commitment to public interest work.
  5. Must be able to balance administrative and client advocacy responsibilities.
  6. Second language skills highly valued.

Interested applicants should apply online at https://yourlegalaid.org/careers