Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services (TCVLS) promotes access to justice through the coordinated efforts of trained volunteers and community partners. TCVLS strives to enable low-income clients to resolve their civil legal problems by providing legal advice, information, and direct representation in a manner sensitive to individuals and their legal needs.
Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator is responsible for the efficient and effective operations of free legal aid clinics for low income residents of Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. These clinics are held primarily in the evening and use volunteer attorneys and non-attorneys to provide direct client service.
This position is the primary contact with clients and volunteer attorneys. The Coordinator answers the public phone line, schedules clients, recruits and schedules volunteers, makes sure clients are screened as they arrive at clinic, links clients with attorneys, and performs post-advice data entry.
The position is paid an hourly rate. It is full time up to a maximum of 35 hours per week. The position requires both day time, evening, and some weekend hours. The Program Coordinator must have a valid Washington State Driver’s License, and automobile insurance. The Program Coordinator is required to use a personal vehicle to drive to neighboring counties, and must own and license his or her own vehicle.
This position has four major areas of responsibility.
- Client Communication: This position is the central point of contact for those requesting free legal services in a four county area.
- Volunteer recruitment retention and management: The Program Coordinator recruits and retains volunteer attorneys who give legal advice at free legal clinics as well as the non-attorney volunteers who provide intake services.
- Clinic management: The Program Coordinator manages the complete operations of the TCVLS legal clinics.
- Data base management and analysis. This position is responsible to become an expert user of Legal Server (the client database), entering enter information successfully and produce reports using data in Legal Server. The Program Coordinator also tracks non-client information that is useful for management of the clinic program and operations. This includes volunteer recruitment and participation.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Understanding of “equal access to justice” and a commitment to operating a program that supports low income individuals and families.
- Ability to work a non-traditional schedule, including frequent evening work hours and occasional weekend work.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English with individuals of varying backgrounds and levels of sophistication (during clinics, interpreters are available for other languages).
- Ability to effectively communicate with people who are experiencing significant stress in their lives.
- Able to remain calm in stressful and hectic situations.
- Ability to direct volunteers to perform specific tasks.
- Ability to protect and maintain strict client confidentiality.
- Ability to refrain from providing legal advice.
- Highly organized yet able to juggle competing priorities
- Ability to track and analyze data and produce ad hoc reports
- Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners
- Competency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google and using Social Media
- A valid Washington driver’s license, automobile insurance, and personal vehicle for travel to neighboring counties.
Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Strong writing skills
- Knowledge of the legal system (including types of legal problems, terms and civil procedure).
- Experience with data entry and client data systems.
Physical Requirements:
The job requires use of a personal computer, laptop, printer, copier and phone (including answering system). The Program Coordinator talks to clients and volunteers and must be able to understand what they say. The Program Coordinator must be able to read an intake form and transfer handwritten information by typing into client database.
The Program Coordinator must be able to lift chairs and tables without wheels to move them into position while setting up and cleaning up after clinics.
The Program Coordinator is required to travel by car to neighboring counties, and must be able to sit for long periods of time during travel status.
Desired Education and Experience:
Bachelor of Arts degree in social services. Experience working with low income individuals or families. Experience managing volunteers.
Salary range:
$15.00 to $20.00 per hour.
HOW TO APPLY: A complete application packet must be received no later than Monday, December 15, 2014. Candidates must include a cover letter, a resume that reflects the desired education and experience, and a list of three references (please include phone numbers for your references).
Application packets can be mailed or e-mailed to:
Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
P.O. Box 405
Olympia, WA 98507-0405
or
director@tcvls.org