Executive Director
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation seeks an Executive Director to lead this private not-for- profit corporation that provides low-income and senior residents of the 65 counties in central and southern Illinois with high quality free legal services in order to obtain and maintain their basic human needs.
High priority roles and responsibilities for the Executive Director include:
- Serving as the public face of Land of Lincoln and nurturing effective collaborative relationships between Land of Lincoln and its clients, funders, community organizations, bar leaders, private donors, business and civic communities;
- Articulating and nurturing a vision for Land of Lincoln’s future;
- Growing and diversifying resources to support Land of Lincoln’s work;
- Leading advocacy within Land of Lincoln and the community to benefit low income clients;
- Making and carrying out employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion and dismissal of program staff.
About Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation:
Land of Lincoln’s vision is that “all people of central and southern Illinois should have access to justice, income security, adequate housing, quality education, healthcare safety from violence and exploitation, and the opportunity to improve their own lives.”
Its mission is to provide low-income and senior residents of central and southern Illinois with high quality legal services in order to obtain and maintain their basic human needs.
Through advice, representation, advocacy, education, and collaboration, Land of Lincoln seeks:
- to achieve justice for those whose voices might otherwise not be heard;
- to empower individuals to advocate for themselves; and
- to make positive change in the communities it serves.
The poor population of Land of Lincoln’s service area numbers over 400,000 persons, including 114,000 living in the area served by the East St. Louis and Alton offices.
There is only one legal aid lawyer for every 9,600 poor persons in central and southern Illinois.
In 2016, attorneys and volunteers handled over 12,700 cases. Land of Lincoln successfully handles cases to address basic human needs in a number of areas, including domestic violence, housing, health and economic security, bankruptcy and debt collection, education, community economic development, elder law and disability rights. Over 75% of clients are women, mostly with children. The majority of clients have jobs – they are the “working poor.”
Land of Lincoln has a budget of $8 million. Its primary sources of support include the federal Legal Services Corporation, Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, other federally funded grants and contracts, the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, and Aging grants and contracts, and contributions. Its strong financial position is a result of careful budgeting over the years and a successful “Bringing Justice Home Campaign.”
Land of Lincoln employs 85 staff members, including 51 attorneys, 5 paralegals, and 29 administrative staff.
Land of Lincoln’s administrative office is located in East St. Louis, and it is expected that the executive director position will continue to be sited there. Land of Lincoln also operates five regional offices: Central (East St. Louis), Eastern (Champaign), Northern (Springfield), Southern (Carbondale), and Western (Alton); three satellite offices (Charleston, Decatur, Mount Vernon); and a centralized telephone intake, advice and referral center called the Legal Advice and Referral Center (LARC).
For more information about Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, visit http://lollaf.org/.
Qualifications of the Executive Director include:
- A passion for the mission of Land of Lincoln and a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income individuals and communities;
- Juris Doctorate degree and membership in good standing with the Illinois Bar, or ability to obtain membership upon employment;
- A minimum of ten years’ experience in the practice of law including significant experience with ligation and management of litigation, in the context of legal services a plus;
- Significant management and supervision experience, in a key management position with a legal services organization a plus;
- Experience in financial oversight, development of budgets, and compliance with grant and contract requirements;
- Strong leadership skills with a focus on the big picture;
- Successful experience in resource development;
- Excellent skills in communication, collaboration, time management, delegation, strategic planning, and relationship-building;
- Personal attributes which include compassion, good listening skills, flexibility, open-mindedness, accessibility and thoughtfulness;
- Valuing diversity, cultural competency, urban/rural differences.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In order to receive full consideration, however, candidates are urged to submit their materials by March 24, 2017. Please include a letter expressing in detail your interest in the position, your qualifications, and what you hope to contribute to the organization’s future; a current resume; and the names and contact information for three professional references.
Salary depends on experience based on a competitive public interest salary scale.
Benefits are excellent.
Land of Lincoln is being assisted in the search by Patricia Pap, Executive Director, Management Information Exchange, 105 Chauncy St., Fl 6, Ste 3, Boston, MA 02111,617-556- 0288, ppap@mielegalaid.org. Candidates with questions about the position or process are encouraged to contact her.
Materials should be submitted electronically to ppap@mielegalaid.org in Microsoft Word or pdf format.
Land of Lincoln is an Equal Opportunity Employer and persons seeking employment will be considered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, military status (including unfavorable discharged), marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation (real or perceived), political affiliation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable United States federal or state law.