Staff Attorney - Housing

Socket.dev; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 71,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick

12 weeks Paid Parental Leave

403(b) retirement plan

Life and AD&D insurance

Job summary

Legal Aid Chicago is seeking two full-time Staff Attorneys in its Housing Practice Group to work directly with clients, handle motion practice, and contribute to litigation and advocacy. The start date is as soon as possible. The position is hybrid, based in downtown Chicago, with travel to courthouses and outreach events possible.

Ideal candidates have a J.D. and Illinois admission or eligibility to waive/sit for the July 2026 bar, strong oral and written communication, and a demonstrated

Qualifications

• J.D. degree required and licensed to practice law in Illinois or eligible to waive into Illinois bar.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; highly developed organizational skills.
• Commitment to serving low-income communities affected by housing law.

Responsibilities

• Interview eligible clients on housing issues and provide advice and brief services where appropriate
• Provide representation to clients facing eviction, with emphasis on negotiation and representation
• Investigate and pursue affirmative litigation where appropriate
• Maintain case files and timekeeping in electronic case management system
• Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Client counseling

Education

J.D. degree

Illinois bar admission eligibility

Job description

Description

For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 200 N. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position requires residency in the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois or Northwest Indiana. This position may require travel to court or other outreach events.

The Housing Practice Group (HPG) seeks to ensure that tenants live in decent, safe, and sanitary housing, free from discrimination and affirmatively furthers fair housing through litigation, negotiation, and advocacy in various venues. HPG defends tenants – mostly subsidized housing residents -- against unwarranted evictions and represents individuals and families who are facing the termination of their housing subsidies. HPG serves a partner in the Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) Early Resolution Program (ERP) providing limited assistance to tenants in Cook County to advise them of their rights, provide referrals, and assist them in reaching agreements with their landlord. HPG is also a partner in City of Chicago Right to Counsel Pilot.

Position

Legal Aid Chicago seeks two full-time Staff Attorneys in our Housing Practice Group. This position will work directly with clients, engage in motion practice and litigation, and further the administration of justice. The start date for this position is as soon as possible.

Responsibilities

• Interview eligible clients on a wide range of housing issues and provide advice and brief services where appropriate
• Provide representation to clients facing eviction, with an emphasis on negotiation and representation
• Investigate and pursue affirmative litigation where appropriate
• Participate in weekly team meetings to present new cases and reach team consensus on representation
• Manage an individual caseload and provide effective legal representation to individuals and/or groups
• Maintain and grow knowledge in a specialized area of law, and competence in related areas of law
• Track data related to grant administration and assist with related reporting
• Maintain case files and timekeeping in electronic case management system
• Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
• Participate in training agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about legal services and rights impacting low-income and other vulnerable persons
• Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising as needed and
• Handle other duties as determined by the Supervisory Attorneys and leadership team.

Salary and Benefits

This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.

The budgeted salary range for this position is $70,822-$77,872, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bilingual Staff Attorneys are eligible for an additional stipend
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
• $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

Requirements

Legal Aid Chicago encourages applications from individuals with relevant experience, particularly those who have direct experience with communities we serve or perspectives that help us understand and serve our clients better.

• Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be licensed to practice law in Illinois or be licensed in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar or have sat for the July 2026 bar examination
• Strong oral and written communication skills, highly developed organizational skills, and great client counseling skills and genuinely enjoy interacting with clients
• The successful applicant will be collegial, and demonstrate a commitment to and experience with our client communities and/or people living in poverty, and applicants are encouraged to share that experience in their cover letter
• The applicant’s personal background, experience, or professional background should reflect an ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers and the community we serve.
• Applicants must have the ability to work well under pressure
• Applicants must be willing to travel to the communities, courthouses, and clinics that we serve
• Applicants must demonstrate flexibility and have the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.

Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, ex-offender status, family responsibilities, reproductive health decisions or any other protected status.

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at [e-mail].

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.