SENIOR COUNSEL/PROJECT DIRECTOR
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced attorney to lead our Economic Justice program providing critical legal support to nonprofits, small businesses and social enterprises and advocating for economic investment and resources for communities of color in the Chicagoland area.
Founded in 1969, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee is Chicago’s preeminent non-profit civil rights legal organization. Our mission and strategic direction explicitly focus on racial equity and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights. We provide legal representation through in-house staff and long-standing partnerships with over 40 member law firms. Located in downtown Chicago, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee has a 20-member staff and a $2.1 million annual budget with a healthy mix of funding sources.
Our economic justice efforts date back to our founding and continue to be a critical component of our civil rights practice by connecting community nonprofit organizations and small businesses in communities of color to the resources of large law firms. Access to expert legal resources, particularly in connection with nonprofit and business law transactional matters, is essential to gaining power in our economic and political system.
The Senior Counsel/Project Director position is an exciting opportunity for an attorney with policy advocacy and transactional experience who can bring vision, talent, and enthusiasm to the role at a time when investment and economic development in communities of color is needed more than ever. Candidates should have experience representing nonprofits and small businesses in corporate transactional matters, and an understanding of how policy advocacy for equitable community development can be used to address historic disinvestment in communities of color and lack of access to capital for small businesses. Candidates should also have a strong commitment to community lawyering and be able to share examples of relationship building and collaboration with community-based partners. The Senior Counsel/Project Director must demonstrate a passion for racial equity, community empowerment, and economic justice and possess the skills needed to be a successful advocate, as well as an effective manager of people and projects. The Senior Counsel will report to and work closely with the Chief Counsel.
Duties include:
• Lead the Economic Justice program, including managing and supervising an Intake and Data Specialist; directing annual workplan development, implementation, and accountability to goals; and overseeing all legal work and advocacy activities of the program.
• Oversee and coordinate the provision of transactional legal services covering a wide range of business law and transactional topics, including formation, governance, contracts, mergers, real estate, tax, intellectual property, employment law, and regulatory compliance, to eligible nonprofits, small businesses and social enterprises.
• In collaboration with colleagues at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee, plan, develop and engage in advocacy on issues of economic justice, including community economic development and support for small businesses in historically disinvested communities of color.
• Build strong relationships with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee member law firms and pro bono counsel through support, training and co-counseling opportunities on transactional legal assistance matters.
• Provide support to volunteer attorneys to deliver high quality legal assistance to eligible nonprofits, small businesses, and social enterprises.
• Oversee planning and implementation of client outreach strategies to expand service levels.
• Participate in significant partnerships, forums, speaking engagements and other external activities to increase the organization’s reach and profile on issues of economic justice and as a capacity-building technical assistance provider.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with client groups, communities served, and other strategic Community Partners for client referrals.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify intersections and develop integrated advocacy approaches that advance racial equity and economic opportunity for the clients and communities we serve.
• Work with the Executive Director and development/communications team to raise the overall profile of Chicago Lawyers’ Committee with funders, law firms, community partners, and media.
Qualifications:
• Law degree and admission to the Illinois Bar or eligible for admission by motion.
• 6+ years of practice as an attorney, including experience with advocacy around economic justice, including community investment and economic development as well as experience with transactional matters (preferably representing small businesses, social enterprises, worker cooperatives, and nonprofits).
• Experience as a supervisor or in a senior attorney role highly preferred.
• Experience working with community organizations, community development corporations, and/or economic development organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and enhance relationships across a wide variety of sectors.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills
• High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and significant initiative
• Strong analytical skills, attention to details and accuracy
• Excellent people skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Cross cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, including written skills, preferred
Salary and Benefits: Salary range is $80,000 - $110,000 per year depending on experience. Generous benefits include PTO and paid leave; health, dental, and vision plans; employer-provided life and disability insurance; and a retirement savings plan.
Please note that we offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with a requirement of one day per week in the office on a designated anchor day along with the option to work up to 4 days remotely.
Qualifications:
• Law degree and admission to the Illinois Bar or eligible for admission by motion.
• 6+ years of practice as an attorney, including experience with advocacy around economic justice, including community investment and economic development as well as experience with transactional matters (preferably representing small businesses, social enterprises, worker cooperatives, and nonprofits).
• Experience as a supervisor or in a senior attorney role highly preferred.
• Experience working with community organizations, community development corporations, and/or economic development organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and enhance relationships across a wide variety of sectors.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills
• High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and significant initiative
• Strong analytical skills, attention to details and accuracy
• Excellent people skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Cross cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, including written skills, preferred
To Apply: Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, [email protected]. Please, no telephone inquiries. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full and timely consideration, candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by October 2, 2023.