Supervisory Attorney (Public Benefits Practice Group)
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: Legal Aid Chicago seeks a full-time supervising attorney to work in our Public Benefits Practice Group. The Public Benefits Practice Group represents clients seeking benefits from the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Supervisory Attorney will manage staff serving people living with chronic medical conditions, including HIV. This includes the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Project which assists individuals in obtaining disability from the Social Security Administration.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain a caseload of individual cases representing clients before the Social Security Administration and the Illinois Department of Human Services and in state and federal courts
- Act as the subject matter expert within the Public Benefits Practice Group concerning legal issues uniquely affecting people living with HIV/ AIDS
- 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.
- Engage in systemic advocacy designed to have a lasting, measurable effect on our client community
- Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case management system.
- Engage in community outreach addressing issues affecting people living with HIV and other chronic medical conditions
- Initiate and manage referral relationships with Cook County organizations serving people living with HIV and other chronic medical conditions
- Work with External Relations to administer and report on grants that support the work of the Public Benefits Practice Group
- Work collaboratively with supervisors, staff, interns, and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services.
- Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising.
- Other duties as assigned by the Director
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, low-cost fitness center access, generous paid time off, and much more.
Qualifications: Applicants must be licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois or prepared to sit for the next bar exam. The ideal candidate will have at least six years of practice experience. Experience supervising legal work, working directly with people living with HIV/ AIDS, people with disabilities, people who have experienced trauma, and people with limited income preferred. Applicants must be highly collegial, have complex litigation experience, strong written and oral skills, be willing to work in an interdisciplinary manner with all Legal Aid Chicago staff and have enthusiasm about working in a high volume practice and training and mentoring less experienced attorneys and advocacy staff. The applicant’s personal background, experience, or professional background should reflect an ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers and the community we serve.
To Apply: Email your cover letter, resume, and the contact information of two professional references to: resume@legalaidchicago.org. Please place "PBPG Supervisory Attorney" in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. No phone calls, please. 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.