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 200 N. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways.
Position:
Legal Aid Chicago has an opening for a full-time Staff Attorney in our Employment Law team. The Employment Law team is part of the Immigrants and Workers’ Rights Practice Group (IWR), which includes the areas of Employment law, Immigration, Farmworkers’ rights, and Human Trafficking law. IWR’s four teams work both independently and sometimes in an interdisciplinary manner when these areas of law intersect.
IWR’s Employment Law team advocates for the rights of workers through litigation, negotiation, and advocacy in various venues. Areas of practice include but are not limited to: Wage and Hour; Discrimination and Harassment; Unemployment Insurance; claims brought under state and local protected leave laws; wrongful termination (including retaliation for whistleblowing); and other laws regulating the relationship between workers and their employers or that otherwise create barriers to employment. This position reports to a Supervisory Attorney and will begin as soon as possible.
Responsibilities include without limitation:
- Manage an individual caseload and provide full and effective legal representation to individuals
- Represent clients in various venues including before administrative agencies and in state and federal court.
- Interview eligible clients and provide the appropriate level of legal services
- Engage in interdisciplinary work within IWR and the agency
- Participate in complex litigation or advocacy to address systemic issues
- 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
- Participate in other activities related to poverty law including outreach, publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising
- Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case management system
- Assist with grant reporting, as appropriate and applicable
- 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 $70,822-$77,872, 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
