Legal Aid Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

Calling All Potential Skadden or Equal Justice Works Fellows!

Do you want Legal Aid Chicago to host your Skadden or Equal Justice Works Fellowship application? In the fall of 2026 will you be a 3L, recent law grad, or judicial clerk? If so, consider applying for one of these post-graduate fellowships with us as the host organization.

About Legal Aid Chicago

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. Learn more about our work at www.legalaidchicago.org. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our collective mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.

 APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• Your resume and a cover letter highlighting your interest in and experience with civil legal services and the communities we serve. You are also encouraged to share any preliminary ideas for a fellowship proposal, though a formal proposal is not required at this stage of the process.
• A brief legal writing sample (2-4 pages)
• Your law school transcript
• Contact information for two professional references
• Legal Aid Chicago welcomes applications from candidates in any of the areas where Legal Aid Chicago practices

These materials should be sent no later than Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Please note that Legal Aid Chicago may sponsor more than one individual for each Fellowship opportunity and that Fellowship awards are not guarantees of employment with Legal Aid Chicago once the fellowship expires.

Legal Aid Chicago is also interested in other fellowship opportunities. If you are interested in applying for a different fellowship, please follow the steps above and indicate the additional fellowship for which you would like to be considered.

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 which reflects 0-1 years of paid, credited experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bilingual 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

Requirements

Applicants should have the following:

• Experience with, or demonstrated commitment to, civil legal services
• Excellent research, writing, and court advocacy skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting (we greatly value oral proficiency in languages other than English)
• Personal or professional experience with, or other demonstrated commitment to the communities we serve, including people living in poverty

Applicants must have the following:

• An Illinois law license or the ability to become licensed in Illinois, or
• At least two years of completed law school credit at an ABA accredited school

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.