STAFF ATTORNEY, CRIMINAL DEFENSE PROGRAM

Position Overview
The Criminal Defense Program provides legal representation to low-income Cook County residents in Cook County criminal courts and administrative proceedings related to active misdemeanor and felony matters that originate in Cook County. In addition to direct and brief legal representation of clients in criminal defense matters, the Staff Attorney will be responsible for representing clients in parole revocation hearings before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Responsibilities of this position will also include providing expungement and sealing services to criminal defense clients and clients of CGLA’s community partners.

Essential Duties
• Provide legal representation to low-income individuals facing adult criminal charges, including parole violations, as assigned, maintaining a manageable caseload proportionate to other responsibilities.
• Work with the Client Support Services Program to ensure clients with social services needs are served in meaningful ways that support or strengthen the legal case.
• Attend and actively participate in weekly client intake meetings, representing the criminal defense team in the civil matters intake meeting as assigned.
• Maintain up-to-date client information in CGLA’s case management system to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking including timely reporting of outcomes, recording case notes for each client, maintaining calendars, and completing case closing notes and documentation.
• Follow procedures established for case handling, follow-up services and internal referrals to address client needs during and after representation.
• Provide education and training to staff and participants of partner agencies and attend relevant meetings in the community at large to further CGLA’s mission of providing access to justice for CGLA’s client population.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with workforce development agencies and other organizations that have formal partnerships with CGLA to provide holistic legal services to clients.
• Schedule and conduct periodic visits at partner organizations to conduct staff training and on-site legal services when applicable.
• Collaborate with CGLA’s attorneys in other program areas to identify criminal defense clients who have civil or criminal records needs and advocate for these clients in noncriminal defense legal matters, assisting with housing law, family law, and criminal records cases as co-counsel with supervisory approval when caseload capacity allows.
• Assist with developing educational materials relating to criminal defense matters and conduct classes for clients, volunteers, courts, partner organizations and other personnel as assigned.
• Provide advice, support, training, and supervision at community and countywide summits and at community outreach and educational events as assigned. Keep abreast of changes in the law and participate in trainings to further legal knowledge and skills.
• Work with the CGLA leadership team to ensure all program goals are met each fiscal year.
• Perform such other duties as the position requires or as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility
May provide occasional supervision to interns and volunteers as assigned.

Required Hours
Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, 40 hours per week. Please note, non traditional hours – occasional weekends and evenings – are required.

Physical Requirements
None.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in a typical office environment. Travel to all Municipal District Courthouses is required. All applicants must have a valid driver’s license and access to an automobile.

Term of Employment
This position is temporary for a term of 12 months, from date of hire. Continuation of
employment is subject to continuation of funding and amount awarded. Anticipated start date is September 4, 2018.

Benefits
We offer a generous benefits plan that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield - Health insurance, Vision Service Plan – Vision insurance, Principal Dental insurance and 100% employer paid life insurance, (EAP) Employee Assistance Program, Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, Pre-Tax Programs for parking, local transit for Ventra and Metra and UberPool, and Vanguard 403(b) retirement account. Additionally, CGLA offers generous Paid Time-off, Floating Holidays and 14 paid holidays per year. During the summer months we celebrate Summer Fridays by closing the office early.