Staff Attorney

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 117,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

The Legal Aid Society (LAS) is the legal services arm of MFS. Since 1886, LAS has been working to strengthen families and ensure equal access to justice by providing free legal services to under-resourced communities, including families experiencing poverty, victims of violence and crime, and the elderly. LAS provides assistance with a wide range of case types, including domestic violence, family law, elder abuse, immigration, human trafficking, expungement/sealing, and housing. With offices in the Chicago area and Decatur, LAS serves clients in Cook County, DuPage County, and Central Illinois.

We are now hiring for a full-time Staff Attorney to join its Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group! The Staff Attorney will provide representation to victims of human trafficking and labor exploitation, including immigration relief and civil litigation. 

The Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group provides legal representation to victims of crime and currently has projects that focus specifically on services to survivors of human trafficking, immigrant victims of crime, victims of wage theft, and legal services to recent immigrants arriving in the Chicago from the southern border. In addition, the Individual and Social Justice Practice Group engages in direct outreach, training, and technical assistance throughout Illinois. As part of a trauma informed practice we believe in reducing barriers to assist clients, which includes being willing to meet clients in safe locations away from the main office.

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $70,000 and $75,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide legal representation to victims of human trafficking and labor exploitation.
• Interview clients, identify legal problems, advise clients of options, and provide legal advice, often under emotional and stressful conditions. In constant
  communication with large number of clients. Assess clients for other legal and supportive needs.
• Using independent judgment, handle a full caseload of varying complexity. Use advocacy, negotiation, and litigation to favorably resolve issues for clients. Draft
  legal documents, discovery material, agreements, and court pleadings as necessary.
• Maintain documents, data, and other information required by various funders. Ensure all case files and case data are timely and accurately updated.
• Identify systemic issues affecting communities served by LAS and participate in developing creative strategies to address them.
• Provide training, consultation, and support to agency staff in area of specialization.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills.

• Excellent writing, recordkeeping, and organizational skills.

• Ability to exercise appropriate independent judgment.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctor AND active member of the Illinois Bar or admission within 3 months from hire required.
• Relevant experience in immigration law, civil litigation, or the general practice of public interest law preferred.
• Fluency in a second language beyond English preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactorily pass all screenings and background checks

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Travel required within Illinois, primarily to MFS centers and courthouses

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package. Find out more by clicking here!

• Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.
• Dental and Vision Insurance Options
• 12 paid Holidays  
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401K Plan
• Training and Professional Development Plan with E- Learning
• Wellness Initiative Program
• Employee Assistance Network

Salary

• $70,000 - $75,000/year