Staff Attorney - Kankakee

Prairie State Legal Services Inc.; Kankakee, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

403b retirement plan

Extensive training and education

Flexible scheduling & partial remote

PTO starts at 3 weeks/year

Paid sick leave

Paid parental leave (6 weeks)

12 paid holidays

Job summary

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. in Kankakee seeks a Staff Attorney to join our team delivering legal services to low-income individuals across housing, family, public benefits, and other areas.

The role requires providing advocacy, legal research, and client representation, with a focus on basic human needs. The position is full-time (37.5 hours/week) with a competitive salary range of $70,000–$90,231 and a comprehensive benefits package including health and vision insurance, a 403(b)

Qualifications

• Active license to practice law in Illinois or eligibility for reciprocity.
• Trial advocacy and negotiation experience preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; research abilities.
• Excellent organizational and case management skills; able to work in a team.
• Spanish language proficiency preferred but not required.
• Valid driver9s license and reliable transportation; some travel required.
• Experience serving low-income clients preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services to low-income individuals across housing, family, public benefits, consumer, health, education, and other areas.
• Interview applicants and assess issues with focus on basic needs.
• Provide legal services including research, counseling, brief services, document preparation, dispute resolution, and representation.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local bar associations and with local, state, and federal government and community agencies.
• Conduct outreach events and client education/intake at community partner locations.
• Provide accurate information for grant reporting and document services in the case record.
• Actively participate in an internal task force related to one or more areas of practice.
• Exhibit a high level of personal energy, organization, and commitment to the PSLS mission.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral & written communication

Research skills

Teamwork

Organization & case management

Spanish language proficiency

Education

Illinois bar admission or reciprocity eligibility

Tools

Computer proficiency

Job description

Every day, people across Illinois are denied the basic rights to which they are entitled under the law simply because they can’t afford a lawyer. It’s our mission to change that.

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our team in the Kankakee 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 impact the ability of our clients 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 the majority of our area, and we pride ourselves on providing high-quality legal services to our clients while fostering a work environment that is motivating, collaborative, and rewarding, with plenty of opportunities for professional growth.

Responsibilities

Among other duties as assigned, the Staff Attorney will:

• 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 issues 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 salary that is competitive with similar organizations. The salary range for the Staff Attorney position is $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
• 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/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.