Legal Advocate Position for Graduating Seniors

Make a profound difference in the life of a child!
Rape Victim Advocates is seeking a Children’s Medical/Legal Advocate 
(Bilingual)

About Rape Victim Advocates:
Every day in Chicago, women, children, and men are dealing with the 
immediate ‐ and often life long ‐ effects of sexual assault. Since 1974, 
Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) has been here to help rape victims, offering 
personal support, accurate information about their rights, and 
experienced advocacy. From a hand to hold in the emergency room, to 
clothes to wear home, to an advocate to stand beside them in court, RVA 
offers survivors of sexual violence the individualized help they need to 
begin moving beyond the trauma to live healthy, whole lives. Then, RVA 
goes further, changing attitudes and preventing future sexual violence 
through education. To improve the treatment of sexual assault survivors, 
RVA provides training to police officers, state’s attorneys, and health 
care professionals.

Children’s Medical/Legal Advocate General Job Description:
The Children’s Medical/ Legal Advocate position is responsible for 
providing crisis intervention, medical and legal advocacy, and emotional 
support to sexual assault victims/survivors ages birth to 17 and their 
significant others. Additionally, this position is responsible for 
providing referrals for clients to services and needed material support. 
The Children’s Medical/Legal Advocate also provides these services to 
adult victims/survivors on an as‐needed basis. Referrals are received 
through contacts in the emergency departments of partner hospitals, 
referrals from the YWCA’s RISE Children’s Center, telephone crisis 
calls, and walk‐in requests. The Children’s Medical/Legal Advocate is 
also responsible for providing institutional advocacy and professional 
training on issues of sexual violence (especially as it relates to 
children and youth) for first responders to sexual assault survivors 
(including law enforcement and health care professionals). The 
Children’s Medical Advocate works out of the RISE Children’s Center. 
This position is part of the on‐call staff rotation providing 24‐hour 
crisis response to affiliated hospitals, and is an essential part of the 
Advocacy Services Program. The Children’s Medical/Legal Advocate is an 
exempt position. This is a bilingual (English/Spanish) position.

RVA offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications:
*BA/BS or equivalent in related fields
*Strong interpersonal skills
*Ability to objectively advocate for the needs/rights of others
*Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
*Ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as with a team
*Excellent organizational skills.
*Positive attitude and pro‐active approach to problem solving a must.
*Previous experience working on women’s issues, addressing sexual 
violence/gender‐based violence, and working with diverse populations 
including LGBTQ communities strongly preferred.
*Written and oral fluency in Spanish required.
*Completion of a minimum of 40‐hours of sexual assault training within 
two months of hire is required; prior completion of training strongly 
preferred.
*Regular access to a vehicle is required for effective service delivery.

Persons of color, LGBTQ people are encouraged to apply. RVA is an equal 
opportunity employer.

How to apply

To apply for this position, please send your cover letter and resume by 
mail, fax or e‐mail to
Sarah Layden, Director of Advocacy Services
Rape Victim Advocates
180 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 443‐9603 fax
advocacy@rapevictimadvocates.org
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
RESUMES RECEIVED WITHOUT COVER LETTERS ARE INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE 
CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION