Metropolitan Family Services
Staff Attorney - Elder & Disability Justice Initiative
Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Metropolitan Family Services
empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 117,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.We are now hiring a full-time
Staff Attorney
to join the
Legal Aid Society's
Elder & Disability Justice Initiative!LAS's Elder & Disability Justice Initiative provides legal services to clients who are elderly and/or living with a disability and who have been abused, exploited, or neglected. The staff attorney will work with other attorneys and a paralegal to provide brief services and extended representation related to domestic violence, financial exploitation, guardianship, and housing matters.Essential Job Functions
Provides legal representation to clients who are elderly and/or living with a disability in cases including but not limited to orders of protection, financial exploitation related matters, guardianship, and housing matters.Assists with LAS's Financial Exploitation Intervention Team, a multi-disciplinary team attended by other professionals to discuss financial exploitation and related issues.Handles a full caseload of varying complexity and represents clients in litigation proceedings, with assistance from immediate supervisor as necessary in difficult cases;Interview clients; uses complex analytical and research skills; identifies legal problems; advises clients of options; and provides legal advice and referrals;Advocate and negotiate with adverse parties to favorably resolve cases for clients; Communicates with opposing counsel, court employees, government officials, and others as necessary;Prepares and uses legal documents including but not limited to court pleadings, motions, discovery materials, and settlement agreements;Maintain client files and input data and notes regarding work done and outcomes achieved in a timely manner;Identifies systemic issues affecting low-income clients and participates in developing creative strategies to address them;Provides training, consultation, and support to agency staff in the area of specialization;Assists in training and provides supervision to law students, paralegals, and volunteers;Serves on program and/or agency-wide committees and may be assigned to represent the agency in organized bar, court and/or political settings on agency-wide issues;Works effectively with diverse staff and service population;Other duties as assigned.Qualifications
Law Degree and admission to the Illinois Bar or admission within 3 months from hire, required.Relevant experience in public interest, elder/disability law, family law, or domestic violence law, preferred.Experience working diverse communities, and ideally experience aiding the elderly/people with disabilities or people who have experienced domestic violence.Employment with MFS requires proof of vaccination or an approved Medical exemption, required.Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.Excellent work management skills.Must be able to work independently.Ability to respond to a large number of clients in a professional and empathetic manner.Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.Attorneys who primarily serve victims of domestic violence must, upon hire, enroll for training and receive a 40-Hour Domestic Violence Certification within 12 weeks of employmentAdditional Requirements
MFS staff are required to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved Medical exemption before starting employment. IF an approved Medical exemption is obtained, weekly testing is required.PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.Salary
Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is $62,905.Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.Dental and Vision Insurance Options12 paid HolidaysPaid Time Off (PTO)401K PlanTraining and Professional Development Plan with E-LearningWellness Initiative ProgramEmployee Assistance Network
#J-18808-Ljbffr
empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 117,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.We are now hiring a full-time
Staff Attorney
to join the
Legal Aid Society's
Elder & Disability Justice Initiative!LAS's Elder & Disability Justice Initiative provides legal services to clients who are elderly and/or living with a disability and who have been abused, exploited, or neglected. The staff attorney will work with other attorneys and a paralegal to provide brief services and extended representation related to domestic violence, financial exploitation, guardianship, and housing matters.Essential Job Functions
Provides legal representation to clients who are elderly and/or living with a disability in cases including but not limited to orders of protection, financial exploitation related matters, guardianship, and housing matters.Assists with LAS's Financial Exploitation Intervention Team, a multi-disciplinary team attended by other professionals to discuss financial exploitation and related issues.Handles a full caseload of varying complexity and represents clients in litigation proceedings, with assistance from immediate supervisor as necessary in difficult cases;Interview clients; uses complex analytical and research skills; identifies legal problems; advises clients of options; and provides legal advice and referrals;Advocate and negotiate with adverse parties to favorably resolve cases for clients; Communicates with opposing counsel, court employees, government officials, and others as necessary;Prepares and uses legal documents including but not limited to court pleadings, motions, discovery materials, and settlement agreements;Maintain client files and input data and notes regarding work done and outcomes achieved in a timely manner;Identifies systemic issues affecting low-income clients and participates in developing creative strategies to address them;Provides training, consultation, and support to agency staff in the area of specialization;Assists in training and provides supervision to law students, paralegals, and volunteers;Serves on program and/or agency-wide committees and may be assigned to represent the agency in organized bar, court and/or political settings on agency-wide issues;Works effectively with diverse staff and service population;Other duties as assigned.Qualifications
Law Degree and admission to the Illinois Bar or admission within 3 months from hire, required.Relevant experience in public interest, elder/disability law, family law, or domestic violence law, preferred.Experience working diverse communities, and ideally experience aiding the elderly/people with disabilities or people who have experienced domestic violence.Employment with MFS requires proof of vaccination or an approved Medical exemption, required.Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.Excellent work management skills.Must be able to work independently.Ability to respond to a large number of clients in a professional and empathetic manner.Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.Attorneys who primarily serve victims of domestic violence must, upon hire, enroll for training and receive a 40-Hour Domestic Violence Certification within 12 weeks of employmentAdditional Requirements
MFS staff are required to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved Medical exemption before starting employment. IF an approved Medical exemption is obtained, weekly testing is required.PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.Salary
Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is $62,905.Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.Dental and Vision Insurance Options12 paid HolidaysPaid Time Off (PTO)401K PlanTraining and Professional Development Plan with E-LearningWellness Initiative ProgramEmployee Assistance Network
#J-18808-Ljbffr