Social Worker (LMSW)

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.

LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer. 

BROOKLYN LEGAL SERVICES SEEKS SOCIAL WORKER FOR ITS FAMILY LAW/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT (FLU) WITH COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT FOR ITS COMPREHENSIVE RIGHTS UNIT (CRU)

Brooklyn Legal Services (BLS) seeks a full-time Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) to join its Family Law/Domestic Violence Unit (FLU) to provide holistic, trauma-informed support services to individuals impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence (GBV). The social worker will be part of an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, paralegals, and other social workers working to address the legal and psychosocial needs of survivors. This role is primarily housed in the FLU but will include close collaboration with BLS’s Comprehensive Rights Unit (CRU) to ensure responsive, identity-affirming support for LGBTQ clients experiencing IPV and/or GBV.

We are especially interested in candidates with a demonstrated commitment to working with immigrants, LGBTQ communities, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and other low-income survivors of violence who experience systemic barriers and marginalization. This is a hybrid position.

About Us

Brooklyn Legal Services, part of Legal Services NYC’s Brooklyn Programs, provides high quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Brooklyn’s diverse low-income population. BLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients — preserving affordable and decent housing, maintaining income support, redressing abusive lending and consumer practices, promoting family stability and mitigating the effects of domestic violence, and advocating for other vulnerable and marginalized populations including low-income immigrants, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities.

As a community-centered, social justice organization, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where staff and clients feel welcome. Through our various affinity groups and committees, we actively work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore, grow in our understanding of and challenge barriers to opportunity within our organization and through our legal work. All employees are expected to learn about and seek to understand, identify and overcome barriers to justice, from individual preconceptions to structural obstacles, and work to realize our organizational goals and mission.

About the Units

The Family Law/Domestic Violence Unit (FLU) has provided legal services to domestic violence survivors throughout Brooklyn for over 40 years and is a recognized leader in the field. We represent survivors in a range of matters including orders of protection, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and divorce. The FLU prioritizes trauma-informed advocacy and works closely with community-based partners, shelters, and hospitals to ensure wraparound support.

The Comprehensive Rights Unit (CRU) offers comprehensive legal services to LGBTQ individuals and PLWHA, with a focus on civil rights, discrimination, eviction prevention, access to public benefits and healthcare, gender marker/name changes, and end-of-life planning. The CRU also engages in affirmative litigation to address systemic discrimination. Many of our LGBTQ clients face heightened risks of IPV, GBV, and other forms of harm. The social worker in this role will coordinate with the CRU to provide trauma-informed psychosocial support to LGBTQ victims of violence who are receiving legal services.

Qualifications/We seek a candidate with: 

• A Master of Social Work degree; LMSW required. If a candidate is not currently licensed, they must take the qualifying exam as soon as is feasible upon hire.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Strong ability to work both independently and as part of a team is required.
• Experience assisting immigrant communities, LGB/TGNC, low-income communities of color, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and clients who are experiencing challenges related to poverty, disability, and/or other systemically marginalizing factors is preferred.
• Experience in providing client-centered advocacy on behalf of people who have experienced trauma is strongly preferred.
• Fluency or proficiency in a language other than English that we commonly serve is preferred but not required.
• Experience conducting psychoeducational groups and/or workshops preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with attorneys and other advocates in the Family Law and Comprehensive Rights Units (and other legal practice areas as needed) as part of a legal team to address the needs of individuals who have experienced crime.
• Provide information about Crime Victims' Assistance and aid clients in applying for benefits and compensation through the NYS Office of Victims Services.
• . Assist and support crime victims in navigating family law (orders of protection, custody/visitation, matrimonial, etc.), discrimination, housing, and other civil law cases.
• Complete written advocacy on behalf of clients, including letters of support and supportive affidavits.
• Accompany clients to court appearances, and to complete tasks in the community as needed (i.e. going to HRA, etc.).
• Conduct psychosocial assessments: to assist clients in accessing necessary services and supports, and for the purpose of determining litigation options and appropriate resources/referrals into the community.
• Conduct home visits, as needed/appropriate.
• Provide supportive counseling, safety planning, and crisis intervention for clients, as needed.
• Document review: utilize clinical skills in analyzing evaluations, medical and mental health records, etc. and share feedback, suggestions, recommendations with fellow legal team members.
• Provide referrals and linkages to culturally appropriate services to address client needs.
• Community education & outreach: Develop and provide community education presentations, workshops, outreach, and interdisciplinary related trainings.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples.

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Please, no telephone calls and no mailed applications.

Salary and benefits are determined by the LSNYC Collective Bargaining Agreement. Competitive benefits package including hybrid remote work policy, excellent medical, pre-tax flexible benefits and retirement plans along with generous annual (23-28 days) and sick leave (18 days). Clinical supervision and the ability to earn hours toward the LCSW credential provided.

Brooklyn Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and people over the age of 40 are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional information about the practice may be found on our website, www.legalservicsnyc.org.

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.