JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
STAFF ATTORNEY
Bilingual-Arabic
Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement, and systemic advocacy. Life Span is hiring an Arabic speaking bilingual staff attorney with 0-5 years of experience to join our Family Law team at our Chicago Loop office location. Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to victims of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil no contact orders, the effects of trauma on clients and their children, teen dating violence, and the criminalization of survivors. Our agency has two sites, and services are available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic. All services are free of charge. Our agency provides national leadership in policy work and systemic advocacy, and our staff has trained advocates, lawyers, judges, counselors and other professionals in Illinois and across the country on critical issues and innovative practices. Life Span values diversity—in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we
serve. We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.
Position Summary: The staff attorney will assist survivors with their domestic relations (divorces) or parentage (unmarried couples) cases. The attorney will gain invaluable experience in negotiations, settlement conferences, litigation (including drafting, depositions, discovery, pretrial conferences, as well as contested hearings and trials).
Responsibilities include civil representation in orders of protection, family law and civil no contact orders for clients with domestic violence and/or sexual assault issues. The attorney will work with counseling and advocacy staff to provide a coordinated response to clients’ needs. The staff attorney will participate in systemic advocacy and policy reform.
• In-house and external training and CLE’s are encouraged at the start of employment and throughout tenure at Life Span.
• Mentorship and guidance are given to all staff attorneys, especially to entry-level attorneys.
Hybrid Remote Position: This is a hybrid remote position following a period of onboarding and orientation training.
Qualifications:
o Licensed to practice law in Illinois.
o 0-5 years of relevant legal experience.
o Experience working with domestic violence victims in family law cases.
o Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.
o Arabic language skill at the bilingual level is required for this position.
Location and Hours: The Staff Attorney position is a full-time, 40 hours per week position based in the Chicago Loop office. Life Span is steps away from the CTA El station pink line, orange, and green lines, and also accessible via the Metra railway, Union or Ogilvie stations. Compensation: Life Span values staff as our most important resource, we offer a competitive salary and generous benefits.
Starting salary is $65,000 commensurate with experience. Benefits include an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), generous PTO and holidays, Summer Fridays, life/disability insurance; 403b plan, health, dental, vision insurance, pre-tax public transit, FSA and DCA benefit plans. Loan Forgiveness Benefit: Life Span is a qualifying employer for the federal PSLF program.
To Apply: Cover Letter & Resume Required Please submit a cover letter with your resume. The cover letter should address your interest and qualifications for the (Bilingual-Arabic) Staff Attorney position. Please email your resume and cover letter to the Hiring Manager via email to hiring @ life-span.org. No Telephone Calls Please, Thank You.
Qualifications:
o Licensed to practice law in Illinois.
o 0-5 years of relevant legal experience.
o Experience working with domestic violence victims in family law cases.
o Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.
o Arabic language skill at the bilingual level is required for this position.
To Apply: Cover Letter & Resume Required Please submit a cover letter with your resume. The cover letter should address your interest and qualifications for the (Bilingual-Arabic) Staff Attorney position. Please email your resume and cover letter to the Hiring Manager via email to hiring @ life-span.org. No Telephone Calls Please, Thank You.