Attorney - Domestic Violence

Days / Shift: Monday through Friday; 8:30am - 5:00pm (with flexibility to meet agency needs)

Position Type/Classification:Full-Time 40 hours; Exempt

Location/Travel: Stuart (limited travel across Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River County)

Position Summary:

The Injunction for Protection Attorney (Domestic Violence) is employed by a certified domestic violence center to provide direct representation to survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual violence and stalking in temporary and final injunction for protection proceedings and assistance with prosecutions of violations of injunctions.

The Injunction for Protection Attorney will represent in a trauma informed and compassionate manner:

1) Survivors seeking temporary injunctions, and after determining that seeking an injunction is a safe and appropriate legal remedy, will complete and file the ex-parte petition for injunction; represent the survivor at the final injunction hearing, and prosecute violations of the injunction; 2) Survivors who have obtained a temporary injunction, or order setting hearing, on their own and need representation at the hearing on the final injunction; 3) Survivors who have a final injunction for protection and the respondent has violated the injunction; 4) Assist survivors in any Post Judgment filings after a final injunction has been issued or all other relevant proceedings. The Injunction for Protection Attorney will conduct extensive outreach with the local community for the benefit of the IFP program and SafeSpace. The IFP Attorney shall also complete all mandatory VOCA reports.

Job Responsibilities:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain an all-inclusive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

• Provide direct legal advice to survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual violence and stalking in temporary and final injunction for protection proceedings and violations of injunctions. 60%
• Assess the other needs of survivors and make appropriate referrals for services. 5%
• Conduct outreach in the service area to partnerships with entities such as the clerk’s office, the circuit court, law enforcement agencies, state attorneys, agencies working with LGBTQ, immigrant, and elder communities and persons with disabilities, health care providers, and faith-based organizations to develop referral protocols and to offer additional venues for the attorneys to meet with survivors who are seeking injunctions for protection. 10%
• Complete monthly and other reports as required to monitor the completion of project deliverables. 20%
• Attend conference calls and Injunction for Protection Project training events. 5%
• Participate in other projects and assignments as requested by the Lead Injunction for Protection Attorney and/or CPO.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Must possess a JD from an accredited law school and two years of litigation experience, preferably representing survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual violence and stalking in injunction for protection proceedings and other civil legal matters or prosecuting batterers in criminal proceedings. Provide direct legal representations while a law student in a supervised law school legal clinic or internship may be included as litigation experience. Newly barred attorneys may be considered.
• Certification or licensing requirements: Florida licensed attorney in good standing with no prior Florida Bar disciplinary proceedings that resulted in the imposition of any penalty.
• Must have a strong understanding of the dynamics of intimate partner violence and the heightened safety risks faced by survivors seeking to leave or end the abusive relationship by filing for an injunction for protection.
• Ability to communicate effectively, including with traumatized survivors, utilizing excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Must possess highly developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Must make appropriate decisions to provide effective legal representations with minimal supervision.
• Excellent time management skills, including managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Must be organized and detail oriented.
• Must adhere to and promote SafeSpace ethics, policies, procedures, and contractual standards.
• Must maintain and protect the confidentiality of the program participants and shelter locations within agency guidelines and state statutes.
• Bilingual language skills are preferred including verbal, reading, and writing skills.
• Must be able to pass a level two background screen.
• Must be willing to lead and serve on the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license with reliable transportation to work at various locations including both emergency shelters and outreach locations.

Core Competencies

• Professionalism and compassion
• Attention to detail
• Reliability and accountability
• Cultural humility and inclusivity
• Problem-solving and initiative
• Team collaboration

Training Requirements:

Required onboarding training will be conducted at the Administrative office or designated location during the hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Must successfully complete CORE Competency training provided by the agency within 90 days of employment and participate in ongoing mandatory education and skills training on relevant topics as required by statutory funding, certification of the agency or personnel, or as identified to improve employee performance. Must maintain annual training requirements outlined in the employee manual. Must have or gain knowledge in Florida Domestic Violence Statutes, Injunctions for Protection, court procedures, victim rights, Office of the Attorney General Victim Compensation / Relocation and Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), and the Florida Department of Corrections VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday). Must meet Florida Continuing Legal Education requirements.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires limited in-state travel across Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River County. Representation of survivors seeking injunctions for protection is dateline-driven and often stressful. This job spends time meeting with participants in a 24-hour emergency shelter, and the community, as needed. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Will be a noisy environment that is fast paced with high stimulation. Working with survivors of intimate partner domestic violence may increase exposure to secondary trauma.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work will be performed in both inside and outside environments.

Notice to Applicants: All finalists for employment with SafeSpace, Inc. are required to undergo screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

SafeSpace is an Equal Opportunity Employer.