STAFF ATTORNEY, CIVIL PROGRAMS (Family Law and Housing Law)

Program Overview
The Civil Programs Department provides legal services primarily in housing and family law matters. The Family Law Program serves parents whose contact with the criminal legal system is interfering with their relationship with their children. The Housing Program provides legal representation to clients facing the loss or denial of subsidized housing based on criminal activity allegations.

Position Overview
The Civil Programs Staff Attorney will be responsible for providing legal and brief legal services in both family and housing matters. In addition, this position will assist clients who have been referred from partner organizations by determining their eligibility to expunge or seal criminal their criminal records and preparing petitions to expunge or seal when applicable.

Essential Duties
• Provide direct legal services to CGLA clients in family and housing matters, maintaining a manageable caseload proportionate to other responsibilities.
• 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.
• Collaborate with assigned Client Support Services staff to improve client outcomes.
• Attend and actively participate in weekly client intake meetings, representing the civil team in the criminal matters intake meeting as assigned.
• 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 civil clients who have criminal legal needs and advocate for these clients in criminal records legal matters, assisting with criminal law cases as co-counsel with supervisory approval when caseload capacity allows.
• Assist with developing educational materials relating to family and housing law 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 criminal records summits and at community outreach and educational events as assigned.
• Attend CLE classes and legal community meetings on relevant legal and social justice topics.
• 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 the Daley Center and the Domestic Violence Courthouse are required. All applicants must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to access reliable alternative transportation. Access to an automobile is a plus but not required.

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.