Managing Director, Community Holistic Defense

Lawndale Christian Legal Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawndale Christian Legal Center in Chicago seeks a Managing Director of Community Holistic Defense to lead CHD strategy, supervise an interdisciplinary team, and advance restorative justice across Cook County.

The role requires a JD, Illinois bar admission, 10+ years in criminal defense, 6+ years in nonprofit leadership, and a proven ability in advocacy, fundraising, and program development; a valid driver's license is required.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate required and licensed to practice law in Illinois.
• 10+ years of criminal defense practice in juvenile and/or adult courts.
• 6+ years of nonprofit management and leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience with restorative justice practices.
• Strong supervisory and team-building abilities; valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead CHD strategy and ensure high-quality, holistic defense.
• Oversee an interdisciplinary team and coordinate with partners.
• Drive fundraising, grant reporting, and program development.
• Represent LCLC in policy advocacy and external relations.

Skills

Leadership

Restorative justice

Advocacy

Public speaking

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD)

Job description

Lawndale Christian Legal Center is pleased to partner with DRG to conduct this search.

BACKGROUND

The Organization

Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC) is a community-rooted, justice-centered organization serving North Lawndale through holistic legal defense, restorative justice, housing, and wraparound support. With an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million and a multidisciplinary staff of about 70 people, LCLC works at the intersection of public safety, community stability, and human dignity.

You can learn more on the organization’s website, www.lclc.net.

Our North Lawndale Community

North Lawndale is central to LCLC’s identity and work. The organization is committed to serving the community with respect, consistency, and accountability, and to building solutions alongside the people most impacted by the justice system.

The community is rich in local leadership, long-standing relationships, and neighborhood-based organizations working together to strengthen safety, stability, and opportunity.

For the Managing Director of Community Holistic Defense, community engagement is not about residency, but about presence and partnership. The successful candidate will take the time to listen, learn, and build authentic relationships with community members, clients, staff, and local partners, and will be able to speak about North Lawndale with care, fluency, and respect.

What We Do

LCLC reaches over 350 minors and emerging adults in the criminal justice system annually with the following services and pilots:

• Community Holistic Defense (CHD): Free legal representation for juvenile and emerging adult clients grounded in holistic defense practices which acknowledge that quality of representation and criminal legal outcomes are improved for youth when their unique developmental needs are simultaneously addressed by an integrated, interdisciplinary team of attorneys and social service providers. LCLC is one year from completing a Randomized Control Trial evaluation with the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab comparing the legal and social impact of our CHD model with our local public defender’s model of defense. LCLC envisions building a specialized youthful defender unit serving all juveniles and emerging adults in Cook County in partnership with our local public defender’s office one day.
• Deer Housing Pilot: LCLC owns and operates 20 units of studio style housing for emerging adult men, 18-25 years old, to complete terms of probation inside the Dr. Dennis Deer Community Justice Center as an alternative to incarceration. Our vision is to build more Deer Housing programs and fewer prisons for emerging adults. The Managing Director of CHD works closely with the Managing Director of Deer Housing to coordinate services and representation.
• Restorative Justice Community Court: LCLC was the lead agency that gathered numerous community members and cook county court stakeholders together to design and launch the first Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC) in the country in North Lawndale in September 2017. This court is based upon the tradition of restorative justice circle keeping and other restorative justice practices to enable repair and community integration for emerging adults, 18-25, facing qualifying felony criminal legal charges. Three new RJCC’s for emerging adults have been created throughout Cook County since we launched the RJCC in North Lawndale. LCLC plans to expand the RJCC for emerging adults and add a juvenile RJCC to serve juveniles 17 and younger under the same model. The Managing Director of CHD works closely with the Managing Director of Restorative Justice to coordinate services and representation.
• Juvenile Diversion Pilot: Since 2020, LCLC has worked with the mayor’s office and the Chicago Police Department to close the Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC) and create a new model of juvenile diversion for Chicago. Under this new diversion model, LCLC is one of eight local service providers for juveniles in Chicago and focuses on serving youth from the west side diverted from the courts by the Chicago Police Department. The Managing Director of CHD works closely with the juvenile diversion team to coordinate services and representation.
• Policy: LCLC is championing two bills currently pending in Illinois. One bill is the Emerging Adult Task Force bill that will authorize a task force of interdisciplinary professionals, community groups, government agencies, and elected officials to explore restorative justice practices and policies across the nation to inform the creation of an Emerging Adult Court Act in Illinois. Similarly, the second bill is the Emerging Adult Sentencing Act, which provides judges and state’s attorneys with the option of sentencing an emerging adult to a residential workforce development program like Deer Housing on probation instead of prison. The Managing Director of CHD works closely with LCLC’s policy team to draft and pass policies and legislation that further LCLC’s vision.

LCLC looks to continuously innovate our program portfolio to build upon new best practices for serving juveniles and emerging adults that better serve our communities.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Managing Director of Community Holistic Defense (CHD) is a senior leader responsible for the quality, consistency, and impact of LCLC's core defense model. This role oversees an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, case managers, outreach workers, and community partners, ensuring that every client receives high-quality, culturally responsive representation grounded in holistic and restorative justice practices.

The Managing Director is also responsible for building and leading a high-performing team. This includes setting expectations, providing coaching and supervision, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Success in this role will require a leader who is both strategic and hands‑on, able to set direction while staying closely connected to the day‑to‑day realities of legal practice and client experience.

Immediate priorities for this role include establishing clear standards for:

• A CHD framework consisting of 5–10 observable practices that reflect high-quality legal representation, effective mitigation, and community violence intervention best practices
• The role of Case Managers and Outreach Workers in shaping legal strategy and supporting mitigation efforts
• In‑person investigative work to ensure legal representation is grounded in, and responsive to, the communities we serve

Leading and Overseeing Defense Services

• Set the vision for Community Holistic Defense: zealous legal representation, community advocacy, and interdisciplinary teamwork that puts the client first.
• Develop a CHD framework of 5–10 observable practices reflecting high-quality legal representation, effective mitigation, and community violence intervention.
• Define and codify the role of case managers and outreach workers in shaping legal strategy and supporting mitigation efforts.
• Design and implement LCLC’s CHD strategic plan, including program standardization, continuous improvement, and alignment to organizational goals.
• Hire, supervise, evaluate, and develop CHD staff. Build a team culture grounded in excellence, accountability, and care.
• Establish training standards and written policies and procedures that reflect LCLC’s community-based holistic practice.
• Execute all grant deliverables; build processes to strengthen performance on existing grants and manage additions as the portfolio grows.

Advocacy and External Relations

• Build and maintain national expertise in community holistic defense and the specialized representation of juveniles and emerging adults.
• Position LCLC as the leading voice for specialized youthful defender units grounded in restorative justice values, for public defense offices in Cook County and across the country.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community members, court stakeholders, partner organizations, and funders.
• Represent LCLC through media, speaking engagements, panels, and public events.
• Lead regular community outreach efforts; maintain deep knowledge of North Lawndale and the surrounding neighborhoods LCLC serves.
• Work closely with LCLC’s policy team on legislation and policy advocacy that advances the organization’s vision.

Fundraising, Data, and Finance

• Lead and support fundraising efforts for Community Holistic Defense and LCLC as a whole.
• Collaborate with the research and data team to develop metrics and monitor progress against strategic plans, program goals, and funder requirements.
• Support development of data systems that accurately reflect client impact, programmatic activity, and reporting requirements.
• Manage the CHD budget; participate actively in LCLC’s annual budgeting process.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate required
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and in good standing
• 10 or more years of experience as a criminal law practitioner in juvenile and/or adult courts
• 6 or more years of management and leadership experience in a nonprofit criminal justice organization
• Demonstrated experience with restorative justice practices, including peace circles
• Strong supervisory and team‑building track record
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep familiarity with North Lawndale; willingness to live in the community
• Experience with holistic defense models, mitigation practice, and community violence intervention
• Prior work with researchers or evaluators (e.g., RCTs, logic models, program evaluation)
• Track record in fundraising, grant writing, or donor relations
• Knowledge of the Cook County court system and its stakeholders
• Experience in public speaking, media engagement, or policy advocacy