Mitigation Specialist, Criminal Trials Staten Legal Aid Society Justice in Borough

The Criminal Defense Practice has an opening for a Mitigation Specialist in its Staten Island office. This hybrid position will work jointly with the Social Work Unit and The Pre-Arraignment Project to provide client services. The Mitigation Specialist will interview clients, pre and post arraignment, and collaterals with the goal of gathering a life history to highlight mitigating circumstances such as mental illness, drug addiction, trauma and/or chronic poverty leading to a client’s involvement in the criminal justice system.

The Mitigation Specialist will be responsible for screening, assessing and addressing the needs of attorney referred clients while securing the least restrictive legal status for them; community referrals; advocating for an alternative to detention, an alternative to incarceration, or lesser sentence, based on mitigating factors; bail applications and written and oral advocacy; providing crisis counseling and intervention to clients. The Mitigation Specialist collaborates with legal and court staff to help clients navigate both legal and social service systems while facing criminal charges.

• Interview pre and post arraignment clients and complete psychosocial and intake assessments
• Provide crisis intervention, brief treatment, or short- term counseling services to individuals
• Identify and interview collateral sources of information. Collateral interviews are done with family members, friends, teachers, social workers, community members, and others connected to the client
• Request, review, and analyze life history records (i.e., school, medical, psychiatric) to document specific arguments within written reports
• Assist in case preparation and casework plans with the legal team to develop alternative sentencing plans, create treatment plans, create bail apps/packages
• Assess a client’s readiness for treatment and make appropriate referrals, i.e. substance abuse treatment, individuals who are victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, mental health counseling, shelters, etc
• Provide oral advocacy and/or testimony in court
• Conduct in-person visits to clients in the community and at jails, detention centers or hospitals
• Conduct training for LAS staff, social work interns, treatment providers, and criminal justice personnel
• Maintain a caseload
• Other duties as assigned

• An MSW degree and New York State (NYS) certification in social work (LMSW or LCSW). Proof of NYS Social Work License must be provided before final decision of employment.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience
• Strong assessment skills and experience working with clients with the following special needs: mental health and substance use, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, neurological disorders, etc.
• Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys, and Correctional Personnel
• Ability to negotiate with community-based organizations with the goal of increasing access for our clients to receive supportive services
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills. Candidate must be able to manage a diverse caseload and prioritize tasks
• Proficient in using Microsoft 365
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team

The salary rangerepresentsa good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range:$83,631 – $125,627

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more.