External Employment Opportunity: Part Time Legal Support Navigator (Designated, 1 year contract with possibility for renewal based on funding)

Designation Status : Avalon is committed to building a diverse team. This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous, African Nova Scotian/Black, or People of Colour.

About Avalon

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre provides a continuum of supports and services to individuals of all genders affected by sexualized violence in Halifax and across Nova Scotia. Since 1983, we have advocated for survivors and worked to provide a safe space through a variety of services. We are deeply committed to trauma-informed, feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive practices that centre equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation.

We are a proudly unionized workplace that is dedicated to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and trauma-informed staff environment.

About the Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic Legal Support Navigator to join our team on a part-time basis (up to 21 hours per week). Working closely with and reporting to the Navigation Lead, the Legal Support Navigator will support people who have experienced sexualized violence navigate the criminal legal system. They will provide information, assist in filling out forms, provide a confidential space to discuss the legal process, and accompany survivors to court proceedings in a supportive role.

Responsibilities

Client Support

- Establish relationships of trust with survivors by providing emotional and practical support, situating the survivor at the center of decision-making processes.
- Provide short term support for survivors navigating the criminal legal system.
- Provide practical and preparatory information regarding the reporting process for sexual assault, court and trial processes, and other criminal legal system processes.
- Provide court preparation around client rights, testimony strategies, and emotional preparation strategies.
- Accompany clients to legal appointments, police interviews, court proceedings, and other related legal proceedings as needed.
- Support clients with filling out victim impact statements, victim services financial counselling forms, legal/professional complaint forms, and other related forms and applications.




- Provide a confidential space to discuss client experiences and emotional impacts around the legal process.
- Provide referrals to legal advice and other appropriate community supports.
- Monitor and remain current on victim services policies and services as well as new trends and legislation regarding reporting and the criminal system.

Administration

- Coordinate referrals, emails, and questions regarding the Legal Navigation program
- Coordination and administration of Avalon’s “Pathways to Justice Fund”
- Updating Avalon's plain-language legal information resources to improve accessibility for survivors and strengthen the sustainability of the program

Additional Duties

- Contribute to organizational culture by attending team meetings, providing input and feedback on new policies and procedures, and participating in community events as appropriate.
- Collaborate with partner community organizations to learn more about access to legal supports and community-based legal resources and pathways
- Other duties as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirement

- University degree in social work, psychology, or a related field an asset. Relevant professional experience or lived experience will also be considered.
- Minimum one year experience working with clients in a frontline support capacity.
- Experience working with survivors of sexualized violence an asset.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and in a self-directing manner.
- Ability to maintain necessary records and documentation and to engage in evaluation of programs and services.
- Knowledge of feminist and trauma-informed practice.
- Understanding of community models of care, with commitment to anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and inclusive values.
- Knowledge of the intersectional dimension of systemic inequalities and oppression,



including but not limited to racism, colonialism, sexism/misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, classism/poverty, ableism, ageism, etc.

Additional Competency Requirements

- Understanding of sexualized violence and sexual assault trauma.
- Knowledge of the cultural and social contexts that contribute to sexualized violence and its impacts on individuals and communities and experience working with diverse populations.

Why Work for Avalon?

Avalon recognizes and values the complexity and skill required in providing support to historical and acute traumas. As a proudly unionized and anti-oppressive workplace we are committed to fostering an organizational culture that actively promotes healthy work-life balance and invests in the support and growth of staff. This includes:

- 20 paid vacation days (prorated based on hours of work)
- 18 paid wellness days (prorated based on hours of work)
- Employer shared extended health benefits
- Employer paid professional development
- Supportive and responsive team regarding vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout

Working Conditions

- Hours: Up to 0.6 FTE - 21 hours/week (This position will work up to three days a week, 8:30 am to 4:30pm or 9:00am to 5:00pm with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break). Location: This position is located in HRM and will work out of the downtown Halifax office and in community.
- SEIU Local 2: Avalon is a unionized workplace. The successful candidate for this position will be a bargaining unit member with SEIU Local 2.
- Compensation: $65,545.20 - $74,860.82 per annum based on years of experience, prorated based on hours of work.

To Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter in a single file to [email protected]. Applications submitted through Indeed or without a cover letter will not be considered.

In your cover letter, please share why you are interested in working in a feminist non-profit focused on sexualized violence. We want to hear from the real you, so please refrain from using AI to create your cover letter.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm on October 13, 2026.

Pay: $65,545.20-$74,860.82 per year

Advantages

- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Paid time off

Work Location: In person

📌 Legal Support Navigator (PT, Designated) (Halifax Regional Municipality)
🏢 Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
📍 Halifax Regional Municipality