Legal Aid Chicago encourages applicants with relevant volunteer and work experience, who have experiences with our client communities or individuals who identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, or otherwise having backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented in the legal profession to apply.
For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
Position: The Housing Practice Group (HPG) seeks to ensure that tenants live in decent, safe, and sanitary housing, free from discrimination and affirmatively furthers fair housing through litigation, negotiation, and advocacy in various venues. The HPG defends tenants – mostly subsidized housing residents -- against unwarranted evictions and represents individuals and families who are facing the termination of their tenant-based rental assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher and other subsidized housing programs.
Legal Aid Chicago is hiring a Staff Attorney in HPG to support our work with the Early Resolution Program (ERP) with Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD). The Early Resolution Program provides limited assistance to tenants in Cook County in order to advise them of their rights, provide referrals, and assist them in reaching agreements with their landlord. This position is to primarily assist in conducting intake for ERP. The start date for this position is as soon as possible.
Responsibilities:
-Conduct court-based intakes for clients facing eviction
-Interview eligible clients on a wide range of housing issues and provide advice and brief services where appropriate
-Provide representation to clients facing eviction, with an emphasis on negotiation and representation in mediation proceedings
-Participate in weekly team meetings to present new cases and reach team consensus on representation
-Manage an individual caseload and provide effective legal representation to individuals and/or groups
-Maintain and grow knowledge in a specialized area of law, and competence in related areas of law
-Track data related to grant administration and assist on related reporting
-Maintain case files and timekeeping in electronic case management system
-Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
-Participate in training to agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about legal services and rights impacting low-income persons and other vulnerable persons
-Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising as needed and
-Handle other duties as determined by the Supervisory Attorneys and leadership team.
Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position may require travel to court or other outreach events.
Salary and Benefits:
This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.
The Staff Attorney position begins at $68,072 and increases for every relevant year of experience.
Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
-Bilingual Staff Attorneys are eligible for an additional stipend
-Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
-Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
-19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
-Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
-403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
-$50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
-Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
-Monthly internet reimbursement
-Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program
-Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be licensed to practice law in Illinois (or will be sworn into the Illinois bar in November 2024) or be licensed in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar
-Experience in housing law and eviction defense is preferred
-Strong oral and written communication skills, highly developed organizational skills, and great client counseling skills and be someone who genuinely enjoys interacting with clients
-The successful applicant will be collegial, and demonstrate a commitment to and experience with our client communities and/or people living in poverty, and applicants are encouraged to share that experience in their cover letter
-Applicants must have excellent communication skills and the ability to work well under pressure
To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. For applicants with previous work experience, one reference must be a former supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.
Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, or ex-offender status, or any other protected status.
If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at [email protected].
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