Client Advocate - Juvenile Division
Client Advocate - Juvenile Division
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Job Description
Position Description
The Metropolitan Public Defenders Office represents adults accused of crimes in Davidson County who cannot afford to hire a lawyer and children in Davidson County charged with being delinquent and unable to hire a lawyer. Cases range from the simplest misdemeanor to complex capital murder cases. Our mission is to defend the liberty honor and constitutional rights of the individuals of all ages whose cases have been entrusted to us. Through zealous advocacy we strive not only to deliver excellence in our representation of each and every client but also to stand with our clients and the community in working to create a more just fair and compassionate legal system. The guiding principle of the Office is that each client is entitled to quality representation that recognizes the clients dignity and achieves the best possible outcome for the case. Our attorneys investigators client advocates social workers and legal assistants take great pride in providing a high level of service.
This is a Non-Civil service announcement. Client Advocates work to support our mission and assist clients with access to resources and treatment as well as provide support to the defense team in development of release plans and mitigation. This is a writing intensive position. We are seeking candidates who have a passion for social justice and specifically for the issues surrounding indigent defense and the criminal legal system. Candidates are strongly encouraged to learn more about our organization online before applying:Typical Duties
Major Job Responsibilities
- Consultation with attorneys regarding potential mental illness substance use disorder and/or intellectual and developmental issues of clients:
- Identify clientschallenges and barriers to receiving services
- Assist indiscerningthe need forforensic evaluations
- Build trust withclientusing empathy active listening and aclient centered approach
- Work with attorneys by utilizing education on social service processes and strategic mitigation
- Interview clients and document their history
- Meet with clients and family in the detention center to develop alternatives to pretrial secure confinement. Create a summary and plan the attorney can submit to court.
- Provide referral case management and support including school visits and collaboration with providers to ensure timely delivery of services (refers primarily to outpatient/ community based programs)
- Facilitationoftreatmentadmissions and servicebrokerage:
- Identify appropriate treatment options (mental health substance abuse co-occurring disorders etc.)
- Facilitateandtroubleshootthrough the application and admissionprocess
- Request and review medical records records from child welfare agencies and educational records.
- Assist with education advocacy for students with disabilities and students experiencing exclusionary discipline
- Emergency assistance:
- Assist clients in crisis
- Assist clients in need of necessities (food clothing shelter transportation etc.)
- Meet with children in detention experiencing emotional dysregulation or difficulty
- Provide regular visitation and support to clientsexperiencing long-termincarceration pendingdispositionofthe case
- Advocate for youth currently in residential treatment settings and/or the child welfare system to ensure appropriate and timely services and reunification.
- Emphasize cultural competence when interacting with clients that identify as: people of color LGBTQ people with disabilities people experiencing mental illness addiction and homelessness children involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. etc.
- Defense team support and consultation on all delinquency cases
- Testify in court
- Develop strong collaborations with community-based agencies organizations and universities
- keeping updated information on referral processes
- Accurate record keeping
- Document work with clients
- Write reports
- Attend trainings and continuing education as needed
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university in psychology social work sociology or a relateddiscipline AND
Two (2) years or more experience working in a social services agency working with marginalized communities or working in the criminal justice system
- Masters Degree in counseling psychology social work sociology or a related discipline preferred AND
One (1) yearexperience workingin a socialservicesagency working with marginalized communitiesorworking in thecriminal justice system
- Experience with and knowledge of the child welfare system and juvenile justice system (DCS) educational systems and provider systems that serve adolescents and families.
Preferred Experience Knowledge Skills and Abilities
Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.
Note: Per Metro Ordinance 94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.
We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals regardless of personal characteristics are encouraged to apply.
Metro Nashville Government respects the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will make on request an accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship on business operations.
Requests for ADA accommodation for the recruitment process should be directed to Candice Humphrey at or
Employment Type
Full-Time
