Staff Attorney - Children & Families (Education Law)

Description:

For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position will require travel to court, school hearings, meetings, and other outreach events in the greater Chicago area.

The Children & Families Practice Group advocates for students whose right to an education is threatened, represents survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in protective order and domestic relations cases against their abusers, and defends parents against unwarranted intrusions by the State into their right to parent.

Position: Legal Aid Chicago has an opening for a full-time staff attorney in the Children & Families Practice Group with an immediate start date. This attorney will work primarily on the education law team, which advocates for the rights of students and parents in various areas of education law. This position will report to a Supervisory Attorney or Director.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintain an individual caseload of education law cases and provide full and effective legal representation to students and parents, primarily but not exclusively in special education and school discipline law
• Maintain accurate case files and timekeeping in electronic case management system
• Develop and maintain knowledge in a specialized area of law and competence in related areas of law
• Work collaboratively with other Legal Aid Chicago staff and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
• Interview eligible clients and provide advice and brief services when appropriate
• Present new cases at weekly case acceptance meetings
• Provide trainings to service providers and community groups about legal rights impacting low-income people
• Collaborate on projects that could involve outreach to community groups, developing new strategies for serving our clients, or address systemic issues through litigation, negotiation, or advocacy
• Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant issues
• Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising as needed
• Assist with grant reporting, as appropriate and applicable
• Other duties as determined by the Supervisory Attorneys and Directors

Salary and Benefits:

This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.

The budgeted salary range for this position is $69,433 - $77,090, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bilingual staff are eligible for an additional stipend
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
• $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

Requirements:

Legal Aid Chicago encourages applications from individuals with relevant experience, particularly those who have direct experience with communities we serve or perspectives that help us understand and serve our clients better.

• Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois or licensed to practice law in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar. J.D. graduates sitting for the July 2025 Illinois bar exam will be considered as well.
• Experience working in education law or the education field (such as teaching) is preferred. This includes experience in special education law, school discipline law, and other areas affecting K-12 students.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, organizational skills, and client counseling skills are necessary.
• The ability to work well independently and as part of a team is important.
• The successful applicant will demonstrate a commitment to and experience with our client communities and/or people living in poverty.
• 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.

To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis, and the positions will remain open until filled.

Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, ex-offender status, family responsibilities, reproductive health decisions, or any other protected status. Applicants who have experiences with our client communities are encouraged to apply.

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding an application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.