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Ascend Justice

Staff Attorney - Children & Families - Legal Aid Chicago

Ascend Justice, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290


Share this page to social media channelsLegal Aid Chicago120 S Lasalle St.Suite 900Chicago ,

IL

60603United StatesLegal 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.The Children and Families Practice Group advocates for students whose right to an education is threatened, represents survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in protective order or domestic relations cases, and defends parents against unwarranted intrusions by the State into their right to parent.Position : Legal Aid Chicago has an opening for a full-time staff attorney in the Children and Families Practice Group.Responsibilities include :Maintain an individual caseload involving primarily protective orders, allocation of parental responsibilities, and divorce and occasionally education and family defense casesMaintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case management systemParticipate in weekly team meetings to present new cases and reach team consensus on representationWork collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago supervisors, staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal servicesMaintain knowledge in other areas of law handled by Legal Aid Chicago such as housing, immigration, public benefits, and consumer law, to ensure that clients’ legal needs are identified and met in those areasCollaborate on projects that could involve outreach to community groups, developing new strategies for serving our clients, or address systemic issues through litigation, negotiation or advocacyParticipate in training to agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about legal services and rights impacting low income personsParticipate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraisingAssist with grant reporting, as appropriate and applicableHandle other duties as determined by the Supervisory Attorneys and DirectorsLegal 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.Qualifications

Applicants must be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, be licensed to practice law in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar, or willing to sit for the next Illinois bar.The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated interest providing advocacy in the areas of gender-based violence, family defense, or education. Applicants must have excellent oral and written skills. Spanish fluency strongly preferred. The successful applicant will be collegial, well-organized, 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.Compensation and benefits

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 stipendMedical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employmentTime Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidaysTwelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment$50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no costAccess to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no costMonthly internet reimbursementLegal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness programPosition type

Full-timeHow to Apply

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. Apply here.

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 humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.

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