Civil Rights Attorney Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

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. This position requires residency in the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois or Northwest Indiana. This position may require travel to court or other outreach events.

Position: Legal Aid Chicago seeks a full-time Supervisory Attorney in the Housing Practice Group (HPG). This position will work directly with clients, engage in motion practice and litigation, and further the administration of justice. The start date for this position is as soon as possible.

HPG seeks to ensure that tenants live in decent, safe, and sanitary housing, free from discrimination and affirmatively furthers fair housing through litigation, negotiation, and advocacy in various venues. The HPG defends tenants – mostly subsidized housing residents -- against unwarranted evictions and represents individuals and families who are facing the termination of their housing subsidies. HPG serves a partner in the Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) Early Resolution Program (ERP) providing limited assistance to tenants in Cook County to advise them of their rights, provide referrals, and assist them in reaching agreements with their landlord. HPG is also a partner in City of Chicago Right to Counsel Pilot.

The Supervisory Attorney will support all aspects of our litigation and advocacy.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain a reduced caseload of individual cases in the areas HPG handles
• Supervise attorneys and other staff in HPG including editing their written work, providing guidance on case strategy, co-counseling complex cases, conducting regular case reviews, providing training in substantive areas of law as well as litigation skills, completing performance evaluations, and overseeing professional development
• Participate in complex litigation or advocacy to address systemic issues
• Maintain knowledge in other areas of law handled by Legal Aid Chicago to ensure that clients’ legal needs are identified and met in those areas
• Collaborate on projects that could involve outreach to community groups, developing new strategies for serving our clients, or address systemic issues through litigation, negotiation or advocacy
• Engage in community outreach
• Represent Legal Aid Chicago on relevant community task forces, committees, or other government or non-profit bodies connected with our work
• Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago supervisors, staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
• Maintain case files and accurate time records and ensure supervised staff do as well
• 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 publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising.
• Track data related to court-based programs and assist on related reporting
• Assist in reporting and administering applicable grants
• Other duties, as assigned by the Director or leadership team.

Salary and Benefits:

The budgeted salary range for this position is $95,204 - $105,204, which reflects an applicant with a law school graduation date between 2021 and 2011.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bilingual Supervisory Attorneys are eligible for an additional stipend
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 21 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays, including four floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 401(a) retirement plan with an employer contribution after 3 months of employment
• $100,000 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
• Reimbursement of annual ARDC registration fees
• Monthly internet stipend
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

Legal Aid Chicago encourages applications from individuals with relevant experience, particularly those who have direct experience with communities we serve or perspectives that help us understand and serve our clients better.

• Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be licensed to practice in the state of Illinois or be licensed in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar.
• The ideal candidate will have at least five years of demonstrated experience and experience supervising legal work.
• Experience litigating housing law cases is preferred and demonstrated history of innovation is a plus.
• Applicants must be highly collegial, have complex litigation experience, strong written and oral skills, be willing to work in an interdisciplinary manner with all Legal Aid Chicago staff, and have enthusiasm about working in a fast-paced practice and training and mentoring less experienced attorneys and advocacy staff.
• Experience working with people living in poverty strongly preferred.
• 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.

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, at least one reference must be a former supervisor. 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, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, ex-offender status, family responsibilities, reproductive health decisions or any other protected status.

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding an application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.