Supervisory Attorney (Public Benefits)
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.
The Public Benefits Practice Group challenges wrongful denials, terminations, calculations, overpayments, and sanctions concerning benefits from the Department of Human Services including SNAP, TANF, AABD Cash, and Medicaid. The group also challenges wrongful denials, terminations, and overpayments concerning benefits from the Social Security Administration including SSI and Social Security Disability benefits. The group also assists veterans to obtain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Position: Legal Aid Chicago seeks a full-time supervising attorney to work in our Public Benefits Practice Group.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain a caseload of individual cases representing clients before the Social Security Administration, Illinois Department of Human Services and in state and federal courts
- Supervise attorneys and other staff in the Public Benefits Practice Group who handle a full caseload in the above areas of law, including editing their written work, providing guidance on case strategy, co-counseling complex cases, conducting regular case reviews, providing training in substantive areas of law as well as litigation skills, completing performance evaluations, and overseeing professional development
- Maintain accurate time records and ensure supervised staff do as well
- Maintain knowledge in other areas of law handled by Legal Aid Chicago such as housing, immigration, public benefits, and consumer law, to ensure that clients’ legal needs are identified and met in those areas
- Participate in complex litigation or advocacy to address systemic issues
- Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago supervisors, staff, students and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
- Collaborate on projects that could involve outreach to community groups, developing new strategies for serving our clients, or address systemic issues through litigation, negotiation or advocacy
- Participate in training to agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about legal services and rights impacting low income persons
- Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising
- Manage grant reports and grant compliance, as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Salary: Commensurate with experience. Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including low-cost employer-paid health plan options, employer-provided group life and long-term disability insurance, fitness center access, generous paid time off, and much more.
- Applicants must either be licensed to practice law in Illinois or
- be licensed in another state (and able to waive into the Illinois bar or be willing to sit for the next Illinois bar)
- Strong oral and written communication skills, highly developed organizational skills, and great client counseling skills
- The successful applicant will be collegial and demonstrate a commitment to and experience with our client communities and/or people living in poverty, and applicants are encouraged to share that experience in their cover letter
- Applicants must have the ability to work well under pressure
- Spanish proficiency is preferred
Click here to apply. Cover letter, resume, and the contact information for two professional references are required to apply. Applications will be accepted until position is 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. Applicants who have experiences with our client communities are encouraged to apply.