For almost 50 years, LAF has provided people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago with comprehensive free legal services to resolve non-criminal issues. Each year LAF’s more than 70 full-time attorneys and staff help resolve civil problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Our work helps about 40,000 people annually.
In 2008, LAF established the Juvenile Expungement Help Desk (“JEHD”) at the Cook County Juvenile Center. At the JEHD, LAF helps individuals access their juvenile court records, evaluate their eligibility to expunge these records, and complete the juvenile expungement petitions and other paperwork. LAF also represents some clients at expungement hearings. LAF seeks 1-2 law student interns to staff the JEHD and help incoming clients with the paperwork. Additionally, law student interns with a 711 license to practice law in Illinois may also represent the clients at juvenile expungement court hearings.
Responsibilities of each JEHD intern may include the following:
• Staff the JEHD and doing the related work outlined in this announcement for 3-9 hours per week, with a minimum shift length of three hours.
• Research JEHD clients’ eligibility to expunge their juvenile records;
• Prepare juvenile expungement petitions and related paperwork for eligible JEHD clients;
• Represent some clients in juvenile expungement court hearings, if the student has a license to practice under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711; and
• Assist with LAF’s other juvenile expungement projects, which involve visiting high schools or community clinics to help eligible students and other persons prepare and file documents for juvenile expungement
Qualifications:
• Be a current law student at an accredited law school who has completed first year.
• Be available to travel to the JEHD, located at the Juvenile Court, 1100 S. Hamilton St. in Chicago, and to LAF, located downtown, 120 S. LaSalle St. in Chicago, and to community or school clinics.
• Eligibility for a 711 license is preferred.
• Experience in public interest law and/or juvenile or adult criminal records relief is preferred.
• Clinic, experiential learning, internship, or externship experience preferred.
Term of Service: The JEHD intern will commit to 3-9 hours per week, beginning ideally in December 2017 or early January 2018 and continue through May 15, 2018, with some flexibility depending on the intern’s schedule and other commitments.
Compensation: The JEHD intern will receive $15.00 per hour.
Applications: Send a resume, a cover letter explaining your interest in the position, and two professional references to [email protected]. Write “JEHD Intern Spring 2018” in the subject line of your email.
Deadline: Applications considered on an ongoing basis and will continue until positions are filled.
LAF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY