Vancouver Social Enterprise Forum: [Opportunity] Pivot Legal Society

A couple of quickies ... from the folks at Pivot.

Pivot's mandate is to take a strategic approach to social change, using the law to address the root causes that undermine the quality of life of those most on the margins. We believe that everyone, regardless of income, benefits from a healthy and inclusive community where values such opportunity, respect and equality are strongly rooted in the law.

Position One: Project Coordinator - Child Apprehension and Families Living in Poverty: Human Rights Issues and Solutions

Are you interested in the issue of child protection and the human rights issues facing parents and children in the Downtown Eastside? In 2004/2005, the DTES witnessed an average of just over 5 protection reports for every 1,000 children - double the average rate seen in the Vancouver Coastal region and almost four times the provincial rate. Pivot is seeking a full time Project Coordinator for its upcoming project, Child Apprehension and Families Living in Poverty: Human Rights Issues and Solutions. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for establishing a project advisory committee, developing a project plan, recruiting and overseeing project volunteers, and coordinating data collection, analysis and report writing. Applicants should have both project management and social research experience. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with diverse and marginalized persons is a must, as are good computer skills.

Application deadline: September 1, 2006
Submit resume in confidence to (604) 685-7813 or use this e-mail link.

Position Two: A family lawyer with an interest in social justice

You’ve always felt that a family law practice should help solve individual people’s problems, but you also know from experience that the current legal system often stands in the way of meaningful resolution of many family law issues. We are looking for a lawyer with experience in family law to help individuals on fee-for-service and funded family law cases. Beyond one-on-one assistance, we also want you to help us address systemic issues in family law, with a particular focus on child apprehension challenges for low-income mothers through a grant-funded advocacy and research initiative.

Application deadline: September 1, 2006
Submit resume in confidence to (604) 685-7813 or use this e-mail link.

Position Three: Be your own senior partner – corporate law without the hierarchy

You love the intellectual challenge of business and corporate law, but you wish you had meaningful client contact, more autonomy, and interesting issues and clients to work with. Part of your time, you will use the business skills you have polished for at least one year in private practice to help small, independent businesses, charities and cooperatives in British Columbia with employment, incorporation, contracts and other business law issues. The rest of your time you will have the opportunity, if you want it, to advance social justice initiatives. If you are a barrister, you will have the chance to work on social justice files, including strategic litigation to address homelessness and lack of housing.

Application deadline: September 1, 2006
Submit resume in confidence to (604) 685-7813 or use this e-mail link.

Volunteer Position: Project Volunteer - Child Apprehension and Families Living in Poverty: Human Rights Issues and Solutions

Pivot is looking for volunteer researchers, lawyers and interviewers for our upcoming human rights project on child apprehension in the Downtown Eastside. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Katrina Pacey.

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