Director of Legal Services

SGA Youth & Family Services; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Employer-paid life insurance

403(b) retirement savings plan

Paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday

Job summary

SGA Youth & Family Services in Chicago provides a broad range of social services to underserved communities, guiding families toward opportunity. The Legal Director oversees compliance and strategic legal guidance across the agency, ensuring high-quality representation for clients in immigration matters.

The role requires a JD with at least 3 years in immigration law, strong research and advocacy skills, and the ability to work with diverse communities.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• 3 years immigration law experience minimum.
• Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Bilingual (e.g., Spanish) strongly preferred.
• Experience with community engagement and outreach.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the agency’s legal affairs with compliance and strategic guidance.
• Provide adjustment of legal status, asylum, DACA, and naturalization services for clients.
• Deliver high-quality legal representation for undocumented residents across Illinois.
• Support staff including paralegals and coordinators, and train the team on key messages.

Skills

Legal research

Oral advocacy

Writing skills

Diversity sensitivity

Community engagement

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Online database entry

Job description

Job Overview

SGA provides a wide range of social services in some of Chicago's most challenged and consistently underserved communities, creating long-term and community-wide change. SGA’s mission is to help children, families, and communities face great challenges to realize their potential. SGA uses a proven and innovative method called the Cycle of Opportunity. This system is a continuum of comprehensive services that helps break the cycle of adversity and provides families with enough opportunity to change their lives and their communities.

Job Type

Full-time

Salary:

$100,000 Annually

Job Overview

SGA provides a wide range of social services in some of Chicago's most challenged and consistently underserved communities, creating long-term and community-wide change. SGA’s mission is to help children, families, and communities face great challenges to realize their potential. SGA uses a proven and innovative method called the Cycle of Opportunity. This system is a continuum of comprehensive services that helps break the cycle of adversity and provides families with enough opportunity to change their lives and their communities.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

• Oversee the agency’s legal affairs, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and providing strategic legal guidance.
• Provide adjustment of legal status, asylum applications, DACA renewal, family petitions, and naturalization services for agency clients and families.
• Demonstrate commitment to immigrant rights and social justice.
• Provide legal advice or assistance in areas of the law that include problems commonly faced by members of the public (e.g. criminal records relief, employment, family law, consumer and credit issues, housing), specifically areas of the law that affect Illinois residents who have been impacted by incarceration.
• High-quality legal representation for undocumented immigrants and individuals not in permanent legal status throughout Illinois.
• Support staff including paralegals, accredited representatives, and program coordinators.
• Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills required.
• Ability to work sensitively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Significant experience in organizational development with a demonstrated track record of success.
• A clear understanding of the community(s) being served.
• Demonstrated track record of strong community engagement skills.
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity is required. Ability to communicate and cooperate with diverse families, various professionals, and community groups.
• Responsible for documenting, training, and communicating key messages to the team.
• Bilingual (e.g., Spanish) strongly preferred.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JOB

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.

Experience

• 3 years experience minimum in immigration law.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Competent in Microsoft Office tools and inputting services in an online database.
• Efforts to Outcomes data system.
• Familiar with various screening tools.
• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Must be able to remain stationary 50% of the time.
• Must be able to frequently move inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs.
• At times it may be required to lift up to 25 lbs. for various classrooms and event’s needs.
• Frequently moves in outdoor weather conditions.

Benefits

FULL-TIME BENEFITS ELIGIBLE

Eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; employer-paid life insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; a 403(b) retirement savings plan; paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays; an Employee Assistance Program; Benefits are provided in accordance with plan documents and organizational policies, and eligibility may vary based on employment status and scheduled hours.

Salary Description

100,000