Laura's House Legal Advocate Full Time - Bi Lingual Spanish

About the role

Join One of Orange County's Best Places to Work! Voted Top Places to Work by the Orange County Register 2025 and Voted Best Places to Work by Orange County Business Journal - 2019 At Laura's House, we don't just offer jobs—we offer purpose. Be part of a compassionate, mission-driven team making a real difference in the lives of domestic violence survivors and their families.

Job Summary

The Legal Advocate is responsible for the provision of legal advocacy services at the Domestic Violence Resource Center (Aliso Viejo), Lamoreaux Justice Center (Orange), Domestic Violence Advocacy Center (Garden Grove), Emergency Shelter, and additional designated courthouses. S/he provides information and assistance with understanding, preparing, and processing the legal forms necessary to obtain temporary restraining orders and also provides hearing preparation and court accompaniment to Laura's House clients across the locations listed above. The primary accountabilities for this position are to (1) complete legal intakes and assessments; (2) provide restraining order preparation, court advocacy/accompaniment, hearing preparation, information and referrals, and (3) collaborate with Laura's House staff to facilitate a treatment team approach across sites.

Legal Advocacy Job Duties

• Complete intake assessments in English and Spanish with Laura's House clients at the Domestic Violence Resource Center, Emergency Shelter, Lamoreaux Justice Center, and additional designated courthouse.
• Aid clients with all phases of restraining order litigation, including assessment; form preparation; filing assistance; hearing preparation; court accompaniment to hearings and follow-up tasks such as obtaining records or documents, assisting with uploading evidence to the evidence portal, and connecting with other service providers and justice system professionals.
• Provide crisis intervention through needs assessment, comprehensive safety planning, assistance in navigating the civil justice and social services systems, systems advocacy (help clients cut through bureaucratic red tape), referrals, follow-up services, and ongoing support to victims/survivors.
• Maintain accurate, current, and complete case files on each client.
• Provide telephone and in-person consultations regarding domestic violence restraining orders.
• Collaborate with immigration law organizations to help clients access immigration services including U-Visa, T-Visa, and VAWA application support.
• Supervise legal advocacy volunteers and interns as needed.
• Enforce each site's policies and procedures.
• Participate in community outreach to help raise awareness about domestic violence and Laura's House services.
• Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies to better serve Laura's House clients.
• Represent Laura's House at networking events.

Additional Job Duties

• Enter statistical and descriptive data for contract and other reporting requirements as needed.
• Maintain client confidentiality by protecting client information and ensuring that appropriate paperwork is understood and completed by clients (e.g. consent for services forms and release of information forms when collaborating with other programs/entities).
• Maintain the confidentiality of client, staff, volunteer, and agency information.
• Adhere to agency policies and protocols related to the security of electronic client service records.
• Maintain the highest levels of accuracy in record-keeping and reporting, ensuring that all client records and documentation of outreach, training, and other work tasks are complete and up-to-date and submitted to supervisor as directed.
• Maintain an up-to-date shared calendar as directed.
• Carry out other duties as necessary to ensure organizational success.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, human services or related field or equivalent experience required.
• Experience with family violence intervention, case management, and crisis intervention preferred.
• 40-hour domestic violence training as required by law. (may be completed upon hiring)

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Oral and written fluency in English and Spanish preferred.
• Adaptability and flexibility while working in a dynamic work environment.
• Proficiency in MS Word and Outlook, as well as internet research.
• Comfort in computer network environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse environment.

Job Qualifications

• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation and appropriate insurance.
• Completion of Live Scan and Drug Test.

Why Join Laura's House?

• Make a tangible difference every day.
• Collaborate with a diverse, passionate team.
• Enjoy a work culture built on respect, inclusion, and impact.
• Be part of an organization committed to your growth and training.

Client/Mission Focused; Communication; Respect. Compassion; Collaboration; Innovation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Laura's House is committed to providing a work environment that is free of discrimination. It is the policy of Laura's House to conduct our relations with employees and applicants for employment based on merit without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, citizenship status, religion (all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), creed, political affiliation or belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, age, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), gender transitioning, physical or mental disability, physical handicap, national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver's license issued under Vehicle Code section 12801.9), marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, military or veteran's status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, updating personal information based on a lawful change of name, social security number, or federal employment authorization document, Employee's receipt of public assistance (such as Medi-Cal), or any other protected status in accordance with the requirements of all Federal, State and local laws prohibiting discrimination. Company policy also prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of the Company. Pay discrimination between employees of the opposite sex or different race or ethnicity performing substantially similar work, as defined by the California Fair Pay Act as amended and federal law, is prohibited.