Chief Legal Officer (Family Law, Orders of Protection, Civil/Criminal)

ZipRecruiter; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading organization working towards ending domestic violence as Chief Legal Officer. You'll direct legal efforts supporting survivors and manage a legal team while collaborating with various stakeholders. Enjoy a flexible, hybrid work environment with comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Medical & Vision Insurance

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Retirement: SIMPLE IRA with employer match

Employee allowance for remote work setup

Qualifications

• Active IL Bar membership with no disciplinary record.
• 5 years of relevant legal experience in family law or litigation for domestic violence survivors.
• 4+ years of management experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel to survivors and ICADV member agencies.
• Hire and manage a trauma-informed legal team.
• Develop legal strategies to support ICADV's goals.

Skills

Leadership

Legal Strategy

Confidentiality

Education

Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Description

Chief Legal Officer

Pay: The anticipated salary range for this position is $110,000 – $125,000 per year to start, depending on experience and qualifications. Compensation is determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant work experience, skills required for the role, internal equity, market competitiveness, and budget considerations.

Schedule: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Shift times: (Flexible) Monday – Thursday; or Monday – Friday; or Tuesday-Friday, depending on needs. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

Location: Remote/Hybrid with approximately 10% statewide travel

Job type: Exempt

Travel: Some statewide travel required

About the Role:

Reporting to the CEO and part of the Executive Team, the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) is a seasoned legal executive who will play a key leadership role at ICADV by directing legal technical assistance to member agencies and legal advice to domestic violence survivors related to the IL Domestic Violence Act (IDVA), immigration, housing, and criminal law and general civil remedies law through a variety of mediums and technologies. The successful CLO will provide strategic and operational legal leadership across the organization and is a visionary leader who will join the CEO and Executive Team in building ICADV’s statewide direct legal services team in service to member agencies and survivors and who will ultimately supervise a dynamic infrastructure of attorneys and support staff. The CLO is an advocate for ICADV’s vision of “a statewide community committed to exposing the root causes of domestic abuse and ensuring safety for families by supporting the voices of all survivors.” This role may perform other related leadership duties as assigned.

This is a hybrid-remote position with in-state travel to all regions within Illinois.

Benefits and Perks:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical & Vision (BCBS Platinum with 100% employee coverage) and Dental (Delta) Insurance with premium tiers

• Hybrid Remote work environment with 4-6 in-person ICADV Team & Program Council Meetings at various locations annually throughout Illinois plus statewide travel to member agencies

• Bi-monthly pay periods

• Generous PTO, paid holidays, and Wellness Leave (accrues at 3.5 hours per pay period)

• Life Insurance

• Retirement: SIMPLE IRA with 3% employer match and contribution, regardless of personal investment level

• Bereavement Leave

• A vibrant team culture that supports wellness, collaboration, inclusivity, and forward-thinking

• Time off to vote

• Employee allowance for remote work setup

We also offer:

• Start date and workday flexibility

• Travel reimbursement / company bank card

Minimum Qualifications:

• Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school and at least 5 years of progressive, related legal experience with active IL Bar membership and no record of disciplinary proceedings with any Bar or other professional association

• 5 years of related experience in family law or other litigation practice serving survivors of domestic and/or violence with orders of protection, housing issues, or in prosecution of survivors’ rights

• 4 or more years of management experience

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of all ICADV business and activities

• Member-centered values and mindset in all work activities & team-based, collaborative approach across organizational actions

Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Immigration experience highly and admission to Federal Bar

• Deliver high-level strategy and hands-on legal counsel to survivors and legal technical assistance to ICADV member agencies statewide on a variety of legal topics including the IDVA and orders of protection, housing immigration, and civil and criminal law.

• Navigate nonprofit legal frameworks and drive innovative approaches in shaping ICADV’s next chapter through skillfully guiding regulatory compliance, governance, and advocacy readiness while ensuring alignment with our member-centered values.

• Hire, train, and manage a high-performing, trauma-informed legal team in service to and partnership with ICADV’s statewide membership and survivors

• Oversee and manage ICADV legal projects with a growth mindset while evaluating for impact, including the Virtual Legal Clinic (VLC), which is a first of its kind legal service for domestic violence survivors who receive legal advice and direction from pro bono attorneys via secure technologies.

• Recruit and train pro bono attorneys and participate in bar associations, legal conferences and workshops, and other events statewide to promote ICADV and the VLC.

• Develop and implement legal strategies to support ICADV’s organizational goals and mitigate risks.

• Manage policies in close collaboration with the Executive Team and provide support on policy review, drafting, and training.

• Ability to work both independently and with others to solve problems while maintaining composure and professionalism in an environment of changing and/or multiple priorities and diverse viewpoints.

• Assist the CEO with identifying funding opportunities and partnerships for legal team growth and development.

• Provide training and guidance on legal and regulatory topics to all ICADV teams.

• Support policy and advocacy efforts in alignment with ICADV’s policy priorities while ensuring legal compliance and adhering to various reporting requirements.

• Stay current on changes in laws, regulations, best practices, and the social-political environment impacting nonprofit organizations.

• Oversee amicus briefs drafted on behalf of ICADV in cases at the state and federal levels.

• Oversee the purchase, renewal, and management of malpractice insurance policies.

• Represent the organization as a member of the Executive Leadership Team to external and internal audiences.

• Develop, implement, and manage the Legal Team’s budget in coordination with the Executive Team

• Other professional and leadership duties as assigned.

Company DescriptionWhen you join ICADV’s team you join a group of individuals who are diverse in culture and , and who are passionate about moving Illinois forward into a future free from violence, acting as agents of change to more equity in our society. At the core of their day to day work, each of them is dedicated to the success of domestic violence agencies throughout Illinois because it is that network of agencies that must thrive to respond to the diverse needs of survivors and their children as they embark on a challenging and scary path to safety.Company DescriptionWhen you join ICADV’s team you join a group of individuals who are diverse in culture and , and who are passionate about moving Illinois forward into a future free from violence, acting as agents of change to more equity in our society. At the core of their day to day work, each of them is dedicated to the success of domestic violence agencies throughout Illinois because it is that network of agencies that must thrive to respond to the diverse needs of survivors and their children as they embark on a challenging and scary path to safety.