Staff Attorney – Ottawa

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

Job summary

Prairie State Legal Services is looking for a Staff Attorney for its Ottawa office to provide essential legal services to vulnerable community members. The role involves addressing a variety of legal issues that impact basic human rights and needs while fostering professional development in a supportive environment. Candidates are preferred if they are admitted to practice law in Illinois or have graduated and will sit for the bar exam.

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

403b Retirement Plan

Flexible scheduling

Paid time off (PTO)

Paid sick leave

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Qualifications

• Candidates will be considered who are admitted in another state and eligible for reciprocity.
• Preferred candidates have experience in trial advocacy and negotiation.
• Experience providing services to low-income individuals is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services covering issues including housing, family, and public benefits.
• Interview applicants to assess legal issues impacting basic human needs.
• Conduct outreach events and maintain relationships with local bar associations.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Excellent oral/written communication

Research skills

Organizational proficiency

Case management proficiency

Ability to work effectively as a team member

Spanish language proficiency

Education

Admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois

Law degree with eligibility for bar exam

Job description

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our team in the Ottawa 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 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 a full-time position at 37.5 hours per week. PSLS offers a salary competitive with similar organizations. Our Staff Attorney salary starts at $70,000 per year for newly licensed attorneys 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/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 skillsExcellent 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.