Staff Attorney (Access to Justice - A2J - Project)
At Prairie State Legal Services, we work to empower individuals by increasing access to education and employment and we help clients improve their quality of life through increased access to income and other support programs.
PSLS is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney for our office in Joliet. Under the A2J project, Staff Attorneys provide legal services to low-income individuals seeking assistance with expungement and sealing of criminal records, restoring driver’s licenses, and removing other barriers to employment, education and housing. Staff Attorneys may also provide legal services for family members, such as guardianships of children whose parents have been incarcerated.
Responsibilities
Among other duties as assigned, the Staff Attorney will:
- Interview applicants for legal services and assess their legal issues
- Provide legal services including legal research and factual investigation, counsel and advice, brief services and document preparation, dispute resolution, and representation of clients in state and federal court and before administrative agencies in a wide range of cases, including: restoration/reinstatement of driver’s licenses; addressing problems associated with criminal records, including expungement/sealing; overcoming barriers posed by credit records, correcting inaccuracies, including identity theft, and addressing improper prospective employer inquiries; credentialing and professional licensure issues and other legal issues.
- Conduct outreach to organizations serving ex-offenders, community based organizations, and parole and probation offices. Develop and present client education at community partner locations.
- Coordinate a clinic or mini summit for criminal records relief in Kankakee
- Provide accurate and complete information for grant reporting to grant funders including documenting services in the case record
- 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 scale starts at $50,000 per year for candidates who meet the minimum qualifications, 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 schedule and partial remote work
- 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
- Candidates who are 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
Please indicate “A2J Staff Attorney-Kankakee” in the subject line and email a letter explaining your interest and experience, resume, three references, and a short writing sample (no more than 10 pages) to careers@pslegal.org. Resumes accepted until position is filled.
Prairie State Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, expression, or presentation, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.