Court Advocate

Crisis Center for South Suburbia

The Crisis Center for South Suburbia is a non-profit community organization that provides emergency shelter and other essential services for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence and addresses the societal issues that contribute to domestic violence. Today, the Crisis Center for South Suburbia operates a 54-bed emergency shelter and has annual impact on the lives of more than 10,000 people. With a staff of more than 83 employees and a budget of over seven million dollars, the Crisis Center continues to grow while offering free services to Chicago's south suburban communities.

In both service provision and fundraising, we maintain the highest professional and personal ethical standards. We respect the diversity of the individuals we work with and serve. Each person's contributions are valued as we work together cooperatively with open communication. We continually evaluate the effectiveness of our services, with established channels for feedback and accountability. We believe in teamwork, individual excellence, and accountability. We embrace a history founded in creating equity – we take our principles seriously by courageously committing to a culture and workplace where all staff feel safe, welcome, visible, respected, supported, and valued. We offer competitive salaries, health, dental, vision & life insurance, 403B matching, flexible schedules, opportunity for advancement, paid time off, wellness resources, training and development, performance-based bonuses and more. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage people of varied races, ethnicities, national origins, tribes, religions, ages, gender identities and expressions, genders, sexual orientations, marital statuses, disabilities, veteran/reserve national guard statuses, socio-economic statuses, thinking and communication styles to work with us. Across our agency, we are working together to support the life-changing mission of ending domestic violence for individuals and families with the transformational impact of lives without abuse.

Court Advocate

The Court Advocate provides trauma-informed court advocacy services to individuals impacted by domestic violence, supporting clients through the legal process while upholding the Mission and Values of the Crisis Center for South Suburbia. This role serves as a liaison between survivors and the court system, offering guidance, education, crisis intervention, and safety planning. The Court Advocate ensures clients are informed of their rights and options under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act while providing compassionate, consistent support in a fast-paced and often high-stress environment.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Bilingual candidates strongly preferred.

Primary Responsibilities

Court Advocacy & Client Support:

• Provide direct court advocacy services to agency clients and court-referred individuals.
• Serve as a liaison between domestic violence courts, law enforcement, and clients.
• Offer crisis intervention, safety planning, and emotional support in both in-person and phone interactions.
• Educate clients on the dynamics of domestic violence and their legal rights and options.
• Provide information and referrals to legal resources and supportive services.
• Ensure all interactions are trauma-informed, client-centered, and confidential.

Collaboration & Training:

• Work collaboratively with court personnel, including judges, clerks, sheriffs, state's attorneys, public defenders, and private attorneys.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships within the court system to support client outcomes.
• Collaborate with court advocacy staff and support volunteers and interns within the program.
• Facilitate Legal Support Groups and contribute to the 40-hour Domestic Violence Training.
• Provide training and education to law enforcement and community partners.
• Support the development and implementation of training initiatives for court stakeholders and external partners.
• Network with partner agencies to strengthen community response efforts.

Administrative & Organizational Responsibilities:

• Attend Court Advocacy staff meetings and other required organizational meetings.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with agency standards.
• Adhere to all CCSS policies, procedures, and confidentiality requirements.
• Maintain professional conduct and appropriate courtroom etiquette at all times.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act and related legal processes.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support program operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, criminal justice, human services, or a related field required.
• 1–3 years of experience working with courts, domestic violence survivors, or in a social services setting preferred.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed care and victim advocacy principles.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including legal professionals and community partners.
• Bilingual strongly preferred
• Valid driver's license required.

Compensation: $47,361.60 - $51,251.20 per year

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.