at Legal Aid Chicago (Formerly LAF) in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Job Description
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.
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.
Position: Legal Aid Chicago’s Immigration Project seeks a full-time Staff Attorney with a minimum of two years’ experience practicing family or humanitarian-based immigration law. The Immigration Project is part of the Immigrants & Worker’s Rights Practice Group (IWR), which includes the areas of employment, immigration, migrant farmworker, and human trafficking law. IWR’s four projects work independently and in an interdisciplinary manner when these areas of law intersect. This position works collaboratively within a supportive team of attorneys and paralegals and reports to an experienced Supervisory Attorney.
The Immigration Project provides trauma-informed advocacy, advice, brief services, full and limited scope representation to individuals and families applying for affirmative relief before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), the Chicago Immigration Court, the U.S. Department of State and defensive relief before the Executive Office of Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Areas of primary practice include Asylum; U Visa petitions; VAWA self-petitions, and removal defense.
Responsibilities:
- Manage a caseload and provide full and limited scope legal representation
- Interview eligible clients on a wide range of Immigration issues and provide advice and brief services for eligible immigrants
- Participate in advocacy to address systemic issues
- Participate in weekly team meetings to present new cases and reach team consensus on representation
- Represent clients in applications before USCIS
- Defend clients against deportation in detained and non-detained proceedings
- Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago staff, students, and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
- Work with other IWR staff members in any interdisciplinary work
- Make appropriate referrals both internally and to outside agencies
- Maintain accurate case files and timely record timekeeping in electronic case management system
- Assist with grant reporting, as appropriate and applicable;
- Conduct community education and outreach and build relationships with community partners
- Participate in training to agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about legal services and rights impacting vulnerable people
- Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising as needed
- Handle other duties as determined by the Supervisory Attorney and the Director
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 budgeted salary range for this position is $69,433-$77,090, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited 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
