For over 50 years, LAF (formerly Legal Assistance Foundation) has provided free civil legal aid to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year LAF’s attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. In addition to representing individuals in court and administrative hearings, we run community legal clinics, provide know-your-rights workshops, and work with community-based organizations to address emerging issues as well as persistent problems that affect low-income families. Our work impacts more than 40,000 people each year.
Position Description: A VISTA Attorney serving as LAF’s Education Rights Pro Bono Project Coordinator works directly with LAF attorneys to increase the agency’s capacity to serve students with education rights disputes by engaging and supporting pro bono attorneys.
Responsibilities: Play an active role on LAF’s Education Law team and provide support for team-wide initiatives; recruit and train pro bono attorneys in providing legal advice and brief services to children with school discipline and/or special education disputes; increase community awareness of education rights through involvement in community legal education and outreach; ensure the sustainability of LAF’s Education Pro Bono Project; supervise and support pro bono attorneys involved in the project; some direct legal representation of students and parents via school meetings and administrative hearings.
Qualifications:
• J.D. degree
• License to practice law in Illinois or awaiting results from the July 2017 Illinois bar exam
• Experience with K-12 education law preferred, specifically special education and school discipline law
• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Personal and/or professional experience working with low-income persons
• Driver’s license (access to automobile a plus but not required)
• Highly developed organizational skills
• Confidence in speaking to groups of professionals
• Experience coordinating volunteers is a plus and
• Experience organizing and implementing trainings is a plus
• Spanish language ability is a plus
Term of Service: November 6, 2017 to November 5, 2018.
Program Benefits: Living allowance ($1,178/month), choice of Education Award ($5,815) or End of Service Stipend ($1,800) and Non-Competitive Eligibility status upon successful completion of service, housing supplement ($200/month), transit pass ($100/month), healthcare allowance, relocation payment if eligible ($550).
Other Considerations: VISTAs may have outside employment and pursue an education, as long as it does not interfere with service responsibilities and is approved by a supervisor.
To Apply: Submit a VISTA application by September 10, 2017 through the MyAmeriCorps website, found at the following address: my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do
*To qualify for AmeriCorps VISTA, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident.
LAF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY