STAFF ATTORNEY BILINGUAL ENGLISH-SPANISH - LIFE SPAN

Illinois Legal Aid Online

Chicago (IL)

Hybrid

USD 70,000 - 72,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid holidays

Retirement plan

Transit benefits

EAP

Job summary

Life Span in Chicago seeks a bilingual Staff Attorney (English-Spanish) to represent survivors in family law matters, including divorces, parentage, orders of protection, and related proceedings.

You will work from the Chicago Loop or Des Plaines offices, may travel to courthouses, collaborate with advocates, counselors, and immigration staff, and participate in policy reform to advance victims' rights.

Qualifications

Licensed to practice law in Illinois.
0–5 years of relevant legal experience.
Experience representing domestic violence victims in family law.
Public interest law exposure including hearings or trials.
English-Spanish language fluency required.

Responsibilities

Provide trauma-informed, client-centered legal representation in family law matters, including orders of protection, divorce, and child-related issues.
Conduct client intake interviews, assess client situations and legal needs, advise clients regarding their rights and options, and develop case strategies.
Assist clients with creating a safety plan and provide referrals to other needed services.
Prepare, review, and file pleadings, motions, petitions, affidavits, and other legal documents, and conduct legal research as needed.
Represent clients in court hearings, trials, settlement conferences, mediation proceedings, and other legal matters.
Manage an active caseload; maintain accurate and timely case records; protect client confidentiality; and ensure compliance with deadlines and policies.
Work with clients from diverse backgrounds and collaborate with advocates, paralegals, counselors, and community partners to provide comprehensive services.
Participate in community outreach, legal education, training, and other program activities that advance Life Span’s mission.
Assist with data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements related to grants and contracts.
Must be able to travel to courthouses and Life Span offices throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs.

Skills

Bilingual English-Spanish

Family law experience

Public interest law experience

Hearing or trial experience

Education

Licensed to practice law in Illinois

Job description

STAFF ATTORNEY BILINGUAL ENGLISH-SPANISH

Organization

LIFE SPAN

70 East Lake Street

or 701 Lee Street (Des Plaines, IL) per preference/experience level

Chicago IL 60601, US, IL 60601

United States

Remote Or Telecommuting

This is a hybrid remote position. Following onboarding and training, employees may be eligible to work remotely for up to 16 hours per week, subject to supervisory approval and operational needs.

The successful candidate must be able to report to the office, courthouses, and other work-related locations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area as needed, on occasion including on short notice. Employees working remotely must be available and responsive during work hours via phone, email, and Microsoft Teams. Internet access is required.

The Bilingual English-Spanish Staff Attorney position is a full-time 40 hours/week position. This position may be based in either the Chicago office or at the Life Span Des Plaines office at supervisor's discretion based on staff preference and experience level. If a Des Plaines based office is authorized, periodic travel to the Chicago office and Chicago courthouses will be required to attend court onboarding, and legal meetings. If a Chicago location is authorized, periodic travel to the Skokie and Rolling Meadows courthouses to represent clients and attend court proceedings is required.

Job Description

Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement, and systemic advocacy.

Life Span seeks a bilingual English-Spanish proficient staff attorney with 0-5 years of experience to join our Family Law team at our Chicago Loop office location or alternately based on preference and experience level, may work at the Life Span Des Plaines office based at supervisor's discretion.

Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to victims of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil no contact orders, the effects of trauma on clients and their children, teen dating violence, and the criminalization of survivors. Our agency has two sites, and services are available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic. All services are free of charge. Our agency provides national leadership in policy work and systemic advocacy, and our staff has trained advocates, lawyers, judges, counselors and other professionals in Illinois and across the country on critical issues and innovative practices.

Life Span values staff who reflect the communities we serve-in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve.

Position Summary

The staff attorney will assist survivors with their domestic relations (divorces) or parentage (unmarried couples) cases. The attorney will gain invaluable experience in negotiations, settlement conferences, litigation (including drafting, depositions, discovery, pretrial conferences, as well as contested hearings and trials). Responsibilities include civil representation in orders of protection, family law and civil no contact orders for clients with domestic violence and/or sexual assault issues. The attorney will collaborate with counseling advocacy and immigration staff to provide a coordinated response to clients’ needs. The staff attorney will participate in systemic advocacy and policy reform.

Professional Development & Support

In-house and external training and CLE’s are encouraged at the start of employment and throughout tenure at Life Span.
Mentorship and guidance are given to all staff attorneys, especially to entry-level attorneys.

Essential Job Functions

Provide trauma-informed, client-centered legal representation to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence in family law matters, including orders of protection, divorce, parentage, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and related proceedings.
Conduct client intake interviews, assess client situations and legal needs, advise clients regarding their legal rights and options, and develop appropriate case strategies.
Assist clients with creating a safety plan and provide referrals to other needed services.
Prepare, review, and file pleadings, motions, petitions, affidavits, and other legal documents, and conduct legal research as needed.
Represent clients in court hearings, trials, settlement conferences, mediation proceedings, and other legal matters.
Manage an active caseload; maintain accurate and timely case records; protect client confidentiality; and ensure compliance with court dates, filing deadlines, ethical obligations, grant requirements, and organizational policies.
Work effectively with clients from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and collaborate with advocates, paralegals, counselors, and community partners to provide comprehensive services and support.
Participate in community outreach, legal education, training, and other program activities that advance Life Span’s mission.
Assist with data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements related to grants, contracts, and program operations.
Must be able to travel to and from courthouses and Life Span offices throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs as needed.

Location and Hours

Chicago Office Accessibility

Life Span's Chicago office is conveniently located near CTA rail service, including the Pink, Orange, Blue, Purple, and Green Lines, and is also accessible via Metra through Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center.

Des Plaines Office Accessibility

Life Span is located in downtown Des Plaines, steps away from the METRA station, and accessible via the Blue Line/Pace transit. Des Plaines is a Northwest Chicago suburb, near O’Hare, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Norridge, and Arlington Heights suburbs. Free building parking is available.

Qualifications

Licensed to practice law in Illinois.
0-5 years of relevant legal experience.
Experience working with domestic violence victims in family law cases.
Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.
English-Spanish language fluency at a bilingual level is required for this position.

Pay scale and benefits

Compensation

Life Span values staff as our most important resource; we offer a competitive salary, generous benefits, and opportunities for professional development. Starting salary is $70,000 commensurate with experience. Bilingual staff may receive an additional $2,000 per year.

Benefits