VISTA Attorney Education Rights Pro Bono Project Coordinator
LAF makes equal justice a reality and gets people back on track. For 50 years, LAF (formerly Legal Assistance Foundation) has provided free legal assistance in non-criminal issues to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. LAF’s more than 150 full-time attorneys, staff, and volunteers help resolve legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Our work stabilizes lives by increasing safety; protecting economic security; and preventing homelessness. In addition to representing individuals in court and administrative hearings, we run community legal clinics, provide know-your-rights workshops, and work with community-based organizations to address emerging issues as well as persistent and chronic problems that affect low-income families. Position Description: A VISTA Attorney serving as LAF’s Education Rights Pro Bono Project Coordinator works directly with LAF attorneys to increase the agency’s capacity to serve students with education rights disputes by engaging and supporting pro bono attorneys. Responsibilities: Play an active role on LAF’s Education Law team and provide support for team-wide initiatives; recruit and train pro bono attorneys in providing legal advice and brief services to children with school discipline and/or special education disputes; supervise and support pro bono attorneys involved in the project; increase community awareness of education rights through involvement in community legal education and outreach; ensure the sustainability of LAF’s Education Pro Bono Project; some direct legal representation of students and parents via school meetings and administrative hearings.
Term of Service: August 20, 2018 to August 19, 2019.
Program Benefits: Living allowance ($1,178/month), choice of Education Award ($5,920) or End of Service Stipend ($1,800) and Non-Competitive Eligibility status upon successful completion of service, housing supplement ($200/month), transit pass ($100/month), healthcare allowance, relocation payment ($550 *if eligible).
Qualifications:
• J.D. degree • License to practice law in Illinois (or sitting for the July 2018 bar exam)
• Experience with K-12 education law highly preferred, specifically special education and school discipline law
• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Personal and/or professional experience working with low-income persons
• Driver’s license and insurance (access to automobile a plus but not required)
• Highly developed organizational skills
• Confidence in speaking to groups of professionals
• Experience coordinating volunteers is a plus
• Experience organizing and implementing trainings is a plus
• Spanish language ability is a plus
Other Considerations: VISTAs may have outside employment and pursue an education, as long as it does not interfere with service responsibilities and is approved by a supervisor. To Apply: Submit a VISTA application by July 1, 2018 through the MyAmeriCorps website, found at the following address: my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do *To qualify for AmeriCorps VISTA, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident. LAF values diversity, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate on the basis of disability and encourages candidates with experience working with our client population to apply.