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.

Legal Aid Chicago’s Pro Bono & Community Partnerships Practice Group (PCG) supports and advances Legal Aid Chicago’s mission by recruiting volunteers and developing, managing, and improving pro bono focused projects. PCG also oversees Legal Aid Chicago’s community engagement work through building and maintaining relationships with a broad spectrum of community partners to benefit our clients and the community at large.

PCG serves clients seeking to have their criminal record expunged, sealed, or vacated. The staff attorney will be involved in all aspects of criminal records relief, including records research, filing paperwork, preparing for hearings, and appearing in court. PCG also assists clients with relief from collateral consequences of their criminal records, such as Health Care Worker Waivers and other licensure issues.

Position: Legal Aid Chicago is seeking a full-time staff attorney to primarily work on Criminal Records relief.

Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive legal representation to clients in criminal records relief matters at every step in the expungement/sealing process
• Support volunteer attorneys in providing representation in criminal records relief and other subject matters, as necessary
• Maintain knowledge in other areas of law handled by Legal Aid Chicago to ensure that clients’ legal needs are identified and met
• Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago supervisors, staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
• Attend and assist with the operation of expungement legal clinics (virtual and in-person), including the supervision of volunteer attorneys
• Participate in complex litigation or advocacy to address systemic issues
• Develop and participate in trainings to agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about criminal records relief
• Establish and maintain relationships with community organizations that provide services to individuals with criminal records
• Track data related to pro bono work and assist on related reporting
• Design and deliver effective training to pro bono partners
• Maintain case files and timekeeping in electronic case management system
• Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising
• Assist with grant reporting, as appropriate and applicable
• Other duties as assigned 

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 $63,500 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 13 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 14 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
• Six 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
• Chicago Bar Association Membership, 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 be licensed in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar
• Experience in criminal records relief is preferred
• Strong oral and written communication skills, highly developed organizational skills, and great client counseling skills
• Enthusiasm for working with volunteers and confidence in speaking to groups of professionals necessary
• The applicant’s personal background, experience, or professional background should reflect an ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers and the community we serve
• 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
• The ideal candidate will have strong client counseling skills and be someone who genuinely enjoys interacting with clients

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our offices, 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.

To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. 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 humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.