For more than 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 80 full-time attorneys and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Our work impacts about 30,000 people each year. As part of our work, LAF receives funding from the Chicago Bar Foundation to staff the William J. Hibbler Memorial Pro Se Assistance Program, located in the U.S. Federal Court.
Position: LAF is seeking a full-time or part-time Staff Attorney for the Immigrants and Workers’ Rights Practice Group, with a focus on serving clients and supporting volunteers at the Hibbler Memorial Pro Se Assistance Program.
Responsibilities include without limitation
• Recruit and train volunteer attorneys to meet with pro se litigants;
• Create informational and instructional memos for volunteers explaining various federal causes of action and procedure;
• Meet with pro se litigants to explain the status of their case, the federal rules of procedure and evidence, and their responsibilities as litigants before the Court;
• Advise and assist with writing pleadings, motions, discovery, and responses;
• Administer the overall program activity, including managing VISTAs, interns, and volunteer attorneys;
• Track data related to pro bono work and assist on related reporting;
• Report to Advisory Board and the grantee; and
• Partner with the Court on scheduling appointments and revising forms.
• If full-time, as time permits, handle individual representation on cases that focus on a variety of employment issues, including discrimination, unemployment, wage theft, and barriers to work.
Qualifications: Must be admitted to Illinois bar. The successful applicant will have experience in federal court work or federal litigation; have the patience and the ability to lead a team composed of multiple stakeholders to accomplish a shared goal; have or be willing to develop excellent skills in coaching individuals; and be able to communicate LAF’s mission and build excitement about our mission within the private bar. Must have a commitment to IWR’s interdisciplinary team approach, which requires attaining a basic knowledge of the intersecting legal issues between Employment Law and Immigration, Migrant Farmworker Law, and Human Trafficking Law, and a commitment to assisting low-wage workers statewide. The ideal candidate will have employment law experience.
Salary: Dependent on qualifications and experience level.
To apply: Send resume, cover letter, writing sample, and the names and contact information for two professional references, to: [email protected]. Put the phrase “IWR Staff Attorney” in the subject line of the e-mail.
The position will remain open until filled, and interviews will be conducting on a rolling basis.
LAF values diversity, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate on the basis of disability and encourages candidates with experience working with our client population to apply.