Description:
Legal Aid Chicago encourages applicants with relevant volunteer and work experience, who have experiences with our client communities or individuals who identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, or otherwise having backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented in the legal profession to apply.
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 by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
Position: The Pro Bono Project Paralegal will collaborate with the Pro Bono Project Manager and other staff to coordinate volunteer projects, and conduct onboarding, orientation, and training of new volunteers and interns. The Pro Bono Project Paralegal will identify and develop appropriate recruiting strategies and marketing materials that detail how volunteers at Legal Aid Chicago can make a difference in their community by providing legal assistance. The Pro Bono Project Paralegal will also work in collaboration with the staff of various pro bono projects to offer paralegal support to the Pro Bono & Community Partnerships Group (PCG) which houses over twenty volunteer-based projects and Legal Aid Chicago’s community engagement and partnerships work. This position reports to the Pro Bono Project Manager and works closely with program staff both inside and outside of PCG to maximize the use of volunteers and interns in advancement of Legal Aid Chicago’s mission.
Responsibilities: Duties include but are not limited to:
Pro Bono Project Coordination
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Assist with the operations of various pro bono projects including client registration and volunteer training and recruitment
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Engage and provide administrative support to volunteers
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Track data related to clients and assist with client communication
Volunteer and Internship Program Coordination
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Assist with volunteer and intern recruitment and creation of recruitment materials, including website postings, social media postings and email communications
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Respond to and screen individual volunteers to provide additional information and match their interest and experience with available projects
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Assist with onboarding and off-boarding process for interns and volunteers, coordinating with both IT and Human Resources
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Coordinate intern activities including orientation, educational seminars, and other social and networking events
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Support Legal Aid Chicago employees providing supervision to interns and assist with any issues related to performance
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Plan and execute volunteer recognition activities including volunteer award nominations and social media campaigns
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Assist with creation, improvement and delivery of trainings offered to volunteers, including assisting with administration of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) reporting requirements
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Attend volunteer and intern recruitment events and serve as enthusiastic ambassador for Legal Aid Chicago
Data and Financial Reporting
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Keep accurate and current data on all volunteers and interns
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Assist with grant reporting to funders including providing demographic data regarding volunteers and information regarding cases closed with volunteers
Paralegal Support
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Conduct client intake and legal screening for potential clients
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Assist with digital and physical client case file management
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Provide litigation support for attorneys including but not limited to drafting letters, completing filing requests, and offering generalized case and administrative support
Other duties as assigned
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 Paralegal position begins at $44,863 and increases for every relevant year of experience.
Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
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Bilingual Paralegals are eligible for an additional stipend
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Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
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Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
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19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
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Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
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403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
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$50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
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Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
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Monthly internet reimbursement
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Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program
Requirements:
- Ideal candidates will have a minimum of one year of professional experience working in a law firm or legal services organization or a J.D.
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Computer proficiency, including knowledge of and experience with the full suite of Microsoft Office applications is required
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Experience with software such as Raiser’s Edge and WordPress a plus
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Excellent interpersonal, written communication, verbal communication and organizational skills
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Ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers and the communities we serve
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The ability to work well under pressure, to work independently and to learn and retain new information
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Demonstrated success in building relationships and working collaboratively to build and strengthen programming. Ability to bring diverse parties together in pursuit of common goals.
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Availability to work occasional evening and weekend events and the ability to travel throughout Cook County
Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position will require travel to community locations and outreach events.
To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.
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 identity, sexual orientation, age religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, or ex-offender status, or any other protected status.
If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at [email protected].
