Land of Lincoln Legal Aid - R3 Community Lawyer Job Posting
Are you passionate about racial justice and holistic legal advocacy? Join Land of Lincoln Legal Aid and make a long-term impact!
Want to make a difference with your law degree? Land of Lincoln Legal Aid seeks motivated attorneys to join us in working with communities in Springfield, IL deeply impacted by violence and overincarceration of citizens. This staff attorney position is an opportunity to collaborate with community partners to address legal needs of residents and identify ways to achieve equitable long-term changes that transform communities and improve the lives of residents.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals in 65 counties in Illinois. We are committed to working for justice with those whose voices might otherwise not be heard; to assist individuals in advocating for themselves; and to make positive changes in collaboration with the communities we serve. Our attorneys provide holistic legal advocacy in partnership with community organizations, social service agencies, and faith-based groups.
The staff attorney in this position will work with community partners and listen to residents to identify pressing legal needs of their community. The staff attorney will provide zealous representation in a variety of areas of civil law, including: expungement and sealing of criminal records, housing, public benefits, and debt relief. The staff attorney will establish and maintain relationships with community partners, attend community events and perform educational outreach, and develop impact advocacy strategies.
Responsibilities include:
• Actively participate in community outreach and education
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners
• Actively listen to community residents about legal needs and develop strategies to address them on an individual and systemic basis
• Handle all elements of litigation including client interviewing, investigation, discovery, pleadings, briefs, and representation at hearings at trial level and appellate levels if appropriate
• Supervising support staff, interns, and paralegals
• Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
• Licensed to practice law in Illinois or has requisite credentials for reciprocity
• Previous legal and nonprofit experience preferred
• Strong commitment to social and racial justice
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work with people of diverse social, economic, and racial/ethnic backgrounds
• Ability to communicate with diverse audiences
• Excellent verbal, analytical, writing and organization skills
• Highly motivated and demonstrated ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Special Working Conditions and Demands:
• Applicants must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and car insurance.
• Applicants must be willing to work flexible hours to accommodate needs of the community.
• Land of Lincoln Legal Aid attorneys are primarily working from home during the pandemic, but must be able to attend court and video conference hearings, as well as meetings and events with community partners.
Compensation:
$47,000+ with license (depending on experience). Excellent insurance and retirement benefits.
Land of Lincoln is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LBGTQIA+ gender non-conforming applicants.
Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to the following Managing Attorney:
Melinda Hubele, mhubele@lincolnlegal.org