Staff Attorney - Bloomington

Prairie State Legal Services; Bloomington (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,231; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403b Retirement Plan

Flexible scheduling

Paid time off

Paid sick leave

Paid parental leave

12 paid holidays

Job summary

Prairie State Legal Services is looking for a full-time Staff Attorney in Bloomington, Illinois, to provide essential legal services to vulnerable individuals, including low-income clients and those with disabilities. This position offers a competitive salary between $70,000 and $90,231 annually, plus comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, a retirement plan, and paid parental leave.

Ideal candidates will possess strong interpersonal and advocacy skills, as well as a valid driver's

Qualifications

• Candidates must be admitted to the practice of law in Illinois or eligible for reciprocity.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills are required.
• Experience in trial advocacy and negotiation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services covering various issues like housing and public benefits.
• Interview applicants and assess their legal issues.
• Conduct outreach events and education at community partner locations.
• Develop networking relationships with bar associations and government agencies.
• Document services accurately for grant reporting.
• Actively participate in internal task forces.

Skills

Trial advocacy

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Research skills

Computer competency

Organizational skills

Case management

Team collaboration

Spanish proficiency

Education

Juris Doctor (law degree)

Job description

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our team in the Bloomington office. Staff attorneys at PSLS provide a wide range of legal services to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, including low‑income individuals, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. We focus our services on legal problems that affect our clients' ability to meet their basic human needs, including physical safety, access to healthcare, adequate housing, and financial stability. Prairie State is the only legal aid organization in most of our area, and we pride ourselves on providing high‑quality legal services to our clients while fostering a motivating, collaborative, and rewarding work environment with plenty of opportunities for professional growth.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services to low‑income individuals covering a wide range of legal issues, including housing, family, public benefits, consumer, health, education, and other areas.
• Interview applicants for legal services and assess their legal issues with a focus on those that have an immediate impact on their basic human needs.
• Provide legal services, including legal research and factual investigation, counsel and advice, brief services and document preparation, dispute resolution, and representation of clients in administrative and judicial proceedings.
• Develop and maintain networking relationships with local bar associations and with local, state, and federal governments and community agencies that serve our client population.
• Conduct outreach events with client communities, including client education and intake events at community partner locations.
• Provide accurate and complete information for grant reporting to grant funders, including documenting services in the case record.
• Actively participate in an internal task force related to one or more areas of our practice.
• Exhibit a high level of personal energy, organization, and commitment to the position and the PSLS mission.

Salary and Benefits

The Staff Attorney position is full‑time, at 37.5 hours per week. PSLS offers a competitive salary compared to similar organizations. Our Staff Attorney salary scale starts at $70,000-$90,231 annually, and increases with each year of relevant experience. PSLS is committed to providing an excellent, comprehensive benefits package to its full‑time employees that includes:

• Health insurance, including the opportunity to qualify for a wellness credit
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan, including employer contributions
• Extensive training and education program
• Flex scheduling and partial remote work available
• PTO that starts at 3 weeks per year and increases with additional years worked at PSLS
• Paid sick leave
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
• 12 paid holidays

Qualifications

• Candidates currently admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois or admitted in another state and eligible for reciprocity in Illinois are preferred.
• Consideration will be given to law graduates who will be sitting for the next bar exam.
• Experience in trial advocacy and negotiation preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral/written communication, research skills, and computer competency.
• Organizational and case management proficiency.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required.
• Some travel is required; applicant must have a valid driver's license and/or reliable transportation.
• We will give preference to candidates who have experience providing services to low‑income individuals.

PSLS is an equal opportunity employer that strives to create a welcoming environment. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, religion, sex, disability, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service, or other characteristics protected by law.