FIRST STEP

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence

Harrisonburg, VA

Legal Advocate:

First Step is seeking a highly motivated individual to provide crisis, advocacy, and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence with a primary focus on providing legal advocacy, support and accompaniment services. They provide outreach and collaboration with the local court system, Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, law enforcement, government agencies, nonprofits and universities and colleges to ensure survivors have access to services.

About our organization:

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has served the City of Harrisonburg and County of Rockingham for over 40 years. We provide crisis, advocacy, rapid rehousing, and shelter services to survivors of intimate partner and relationship violence and their children. First Step welcomes and respects all survivors, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, age, gender, disability, national origin, religion, language(s) spoken, language proficiency, citizenship status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We are committed to providing free and confidential services to survivors of intimate partner or relationship violence who have experienced economic, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and/or verbal abuse.

Our mission:

Empowering survivors to break the cycle of violence and abuse in their lives.

Our vision:

The vision of First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is a community free of abuse.

Responsibilities:

Legal Advocacy

• Provide survivors of intimate partner violence with information and referrals, safety planning services, advocacy services, and accompaniment services as needed to appointments, court hearings, etc.
• Advocate for survivors
• Attend domestic violence court hearings as needed
• Coordinates services for survivors with the local Victim Witness Office and other service providers in the community
• Complete case notes, forms and data entry
• Attend regular staff meetings, trainings, and multidisciplinary team meetings/events
• Complete all other assigned activities

Crisis Services

• Answer crisis hotline
• Provide safety planning services, intake, assessment, information and referral, accompaniment, advocacy, and evaluation and follow-up services to survivors of intimate partner violence and their children.
• On-call services
• Complete case notes, forms and data entry
• Assist with shelter management duties
• Attend regular staff meetings, community outreach and training opportunities
• Complete all other assigned activities

Hours

• Full-time salaried position
• Some evening, night, weekend and holiday hours required

Salary and Benefits

• Salary -$44,000.00
• Health Insurance the first day of the month after 60 days of employment, 50% of employee premium paid
• SIMPLE IRA Plan with up to 3% match
• Sentara Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off

Reports to

• Director of Client Services

Qualifications

• Educational Background in human services, victim services, and/or related field.
• 3 to 5 years of related experience
• Knowledge, skills and ability to work with survivors of intimate partner of violence
• Experience answering a crisis hotline
• Computer literacy and proficiency in Outlook, Microsoft Office and/or similar business software suites

Skills

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
• Motivational interviewing skills
• Bilingual/multilingual fluency preferred (e.g., ability to read, write, and speak)
• Time management and flexibility with job duties
• Organized and a self-starter
• Works well in a team setting, as well as independently

Apply by

• Please apply by August 17, 2026

To Apply

• Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace.

We welcome applications for candidates from diverse backgrounds. Although it is not a requirement for this role, candidates who are bilingual/multilingual are encouraged to apply.