Job Posting: Legal Advocate - First United Church - Vancouver

JOB POSTING

TITLE: Legal Advocate (Part-time)

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

First United Church is an inner city Ministry of the United Church of Canada committed to social justice, building community and affirming the worth of individuals. We seek to offer hospitality, shelter, housing advocacy, community support, emergency aid and a wide variety of ancillary services to promote the well-being of community members.

The goal of the advocacy related work is to ensure that individuals living in poverty have access to the same basic rights as any other member of society.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Working a three day week and with a team of three other Advocates, this position provides advocacy assistance and representation to the Downtown Eastside community on a variety of issues generally encountered by low income individuals and families.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Participate fully in the poverty law intake program including:
• Offering information, referral and summary as well as full representation in a variety of areas such as disability and health benefits, debt and income assistance, immigration/refugee issues, tenancy and other rights.
• Obtaining federal disability benefits and other income security benefits.
• Assisting Downtown Eastside population in areas of law where they are particularly vulnerable, e.g. tenancy disputes.

2. Assist in the delivery of public legal education workshops where appropriate.

3. Engage in research that is directly related to the casework.

4. Provide full representation at hearings, written submission of appeals and reconsideration of decision, written and spoken interventions at an administrative level with a number of government programs, interviews and investigations and basic assistance with a wide variety of applications.

5. Contact numerous government agencies, social service agencies, housing providers, other community legal assistance organizations and individual lawyers in particular areas of the law.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Law Degree or depending upon experience, a university undergraduate degree, para-legal training certificate or continuing education training in poverty law.
• Up to one year experience would be an asset.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Good communication skills both oral and written.
• Up-to-date computer skills with Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of the difficulties encountered by people living in the Downtown Eastside is an asset.
• Knowledge of statutes such as Residential Tenancy and Employment and Assistance Acts.

HOURS OF WORK: 22.5 hours/week (Could be increased subject to funding.)

Please forward a resume and cover letter to Stephen Gray by May 19, 2014.

See Craigslist posting to apply:
 http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/lgl/4445100356.html