Legal Advocate - Langley, Canada - LCSS, Langley Community Services Society

Description

**LANGLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES - JOB POSTING ADV 24-01

❖ Job Title:
Legal Advocate

❖ Department:
Settlement & Employment Services
❖ Start Date :
April 2nd 2024
❖ Salary:
Hourly Rate $ $38.39 depending on qualifications
❖ Hours:
Full Time - 35 hours per week

❖ Reports

to:
Program Manager

❖


About Us
Langley Community Services Society has been in existence for over 50 years. We offer a
wide variety of social service programs to the community. We are fully accredited through the
Council of Accreditation and maintain best practices standards. Our mission is to assist
individuals and families to enhance their lives through the provision of information, services,
and programs.

❖
Job Summary
This newly created position will work directly with clients to educate them about their legal
rights, explain options for legal problem solving and, where appropriate, assist them with
dispute resolution and/or represent them at hearings before boards and tribunals. The
Advocate will also promote awareness of the legal advocacy program and its activities.

❖
Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide legal information on poverty law issues.
• Facilitate client's access to community resources as appropriate (e.g., LSS) and provide selfhelp

materials.

• Interview and assess client poverty legal issues and determine course of action and provide

information, insight, and advocacy and if appropriate, accompaniment at a tribunal level.

• Provide clients with legal information and assistance (e.g. income assistance, housing

appropriate.

• Support and encourage clients to engage in selfadvocacy (provide selfhelp materials);
• Liaise with community groups to enhance awareness of LSS services and public legal education

and information (PLEI) materials.

• Write and submit regular reports as required by the Law Foundation of British Columbia, LSS and

LCSS;

• Maintain and manage accurate and timely documentation of client files and statistical records;
• Participate in file supervision as deemed appropriate by the supervising lawyer and immediate

supervisor.

• Contribute to the agencywide Quality Assurance Program.
• Meet regularly with department supervisors/advocate and with supervising lawyer to review

- program activities.

• Ensure that programs and services meet all applicable accreditation, reporting and contractual

- requirements, and

• Performs other duties/tasks as directed.

❖ **Required Education, Experience, Training

• Postsecondary education in social sciences, law, counseling, criminology, or other relevant

qualifications; or a combination or relevant experience and legal education.

• Legal or paralegal training
• Demonstrated knowledge of legal/community resources and familiarity with poverty/social justice

issues.

poverty.

• Aptitude for working effectively with individuals who are underserved and underrepresented.
• Awareness of and sensitivity towards cultural influences within the diverse client base
• Strong communications skills including ability to identify hidden issues.
• Dispute resolution training an asset.
• Knowledge of local community resources (or how to find them);
• Strong record keeping, communication and administrative skills including ability to keep reliable

and accurate notes of client and other case contacts.

• Ability to manage confidential information in accordance with the Law Society standards and

LCSS confidentiality Agreement.

• Ability to work independently, take initiative and at the same time function as part of a team.
• Treats people with respect; inspires the trust of others and works ethically and with integrity, and
• Computer literacy, including effective working skills in MS Word and Excel essential.

❖
Additional Information:

• Criminal Record Check required.
• Valid Driver's Licence and use of personal vehicle may be required for work. Mileage

is not paid for to and from work site for start and end of shift purposes.

• Flexibility to work within varying Locations.
• Work outside of normal office hours may be required.
• This is a Union Position

TO APPLY:

Please reply by March 22, 2024, with Cover Letter and Resume, quoting Posting Number ADV 24-01


to:

Attention:
Mary Tanielian

Senior - Director of Settlement and Employment Services.
th Street, Langley, BC V3A 2E6