For over 50 years, LAF has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve legal problems, including denials, terminations and overpayments of public benefits from the Department of Human Services and the Social Security Administration. The expected start date for this position is September 2018. The Public Benefits Supervisory Attorney reports to the Public Benefits Practice Group Director and is responsible for some or all of the following tasks:
Responsibilities:
• Maintain a caseload of individual and complex Department of Human Services and Social Security Administration cases;
• Supervise attorneys and or paralegals assigned to the Public Benefits Practice Group who handle a full case load in the above area of law, including editing their written work, providing guidance on case strategy, cocounseling complex cases, conducting regular case reviews, providing training in substantive areas of law as well as litigation skills, and completing performance evaluations;
• Manage grant reports and grant compliance, as needed;
• Maintain knowledge in other areas of law handled by LAF such as housing, immigration, family, education and consumer law, to ensure that clients’ legal needs are identified and met in those areas;
• Participate in complex litigation or advocacy to address systemic issues;
• Work collaboratively with LAF supervisors, staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
• Collaborate on projects that could involve outreach to community groups, developing new strategies for serving our clients, or addressing systemic issues through litigation, negotiation or advocacy.
• Participate in training to agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about legal services and rights impacting low income persons.
• Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising.
Qualifications: Applicant must be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. The ideal candidate will have at least 6 years of demonstrated experience in litigation and administrative advocacy, as well as a demonstrated interest or experience working with public benefits including Medicaid, SNAP, TANF and disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Fluency in Spanish or another second language fluency is preferred. The applicant’s personal background, experience, or professional background should reflect an ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers and the community we serve.
Applicants must be able to travel to administrative offices and community partner locations throughout Cook County.
Salary: Dependent on qualifications and experience level. LAF offers generous fringe benefits.
To Apply: Send a cover letter, resume, copy of law school transcript, writing sample, and the names of two professional references to: [email protected]. Please type “PBPG Supervisor” in the email subject line. This position will remain open until filled. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Deadline to apply is May 31, 2018.
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.