Community Holistic Defense Staff Attorney

Position Summary

At LCLC, our attorneys serve as Community Lawyers—legal professionals embedded in a nonprofit, community-based, restorative justice model that provides holistic defense for justice-involved youth and emerging adults (under 26). This role goes beyond courtroom advocacy, requiring close collaboration with an interdisciplinary social team (including case managers, outreach workers, and community partners) to support clients and their families. Community Lawyers understand the social and systemic challenges faced by North Lawndale area residents, applying this insight to mitigation and defense strategies. They are expected to be visibly engaged in the communities they serve—attending events, building local relationships, visiting crime scenes, interviewing local witnesses, and preparing robust mitigation packages—to provide geographically focused, resident-based representation. Responsibilities also include supporting referrals to CHD Emerging Adults programs like the Deer Center, participating in at least three community events monthly, and contributing to broader criminal justice transformation efforts through strategic planning. Ultimately, LCLC entrusts its attorneys to serve as advocates, thought-partners, and practitioners of LCLC’s unique model of holistic, community-based legal representation for youth and emerging adults.

Responsibilities 

• Support and promote LCLC’s mission, vision, and values and performs all duties in alignment

• Zealous representation of high-risk youth and emerging adults (25 and under) at all stages of criminal court proceedings

• Alignment to LCLC’s model of criminal defense and the principles of effective legal assistance including appearing in court for all hearings from bond court to probation status checks; researching, writing, and litigating pre-trial motions; serving as first or second chair in hearings and trials; etc.

• Visible engagement with the North Lawndale, Austin, and East and West Garfield Park communities including but not limited to representing LCLC at events, building relationships with local organizations, visiting crime scenes, and interviewing local witnesses

• Collaborative inclusion of the client’s holistic support team (case manager, outreach worker, etc.) in the legal strategy of the case at every stage from initial intake to mitigation package development 

• Support for LCLC’s social services staff, legal interns, and partners to ensure that needed legal and social services are integrated and coordinated for clients

• Regular face-to-face client engagement in the client’s home community particularly at critical case stages (e.g., preparing clients to choose between best plea and trial). This includes police station or jail visits for in-custody clients, and may include weekends and evenings as needed.

• Travel as needed to collar counties to represent clients with cases in nearby jurisdictions

• Development of  “mitigation packets” to provide a powerful and genuine narrative about the client to use in plea negotiations in order to avoid permanent felony convictions and incarceration

• Collaboration with pro bono partners to increase our capacity to serve clients

• Timely, comprehensive record keeping in MyCase & NeonOne, and a continuous lens towards the power of data and storytelling to transform the criminal legal system

• Use of current social science research about adolescents and emerging adults in approach to clients, court advocacy, and negotiations

• Engagement with and facilitation of cross-training opportunities with social team and other departments to broaden skill sets and enhance overall CHD team and LCLC performance 

• Promote professional development through legal training, and meetings internally and externally with other organizations and agencies

• Innovation mindset that values elevating, discussing, and testing ideas for how LCLC can improve our model of community holistic defense

• Additional job duties as assigned

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Licensed to practice in Illinois or eligibility for admission to the Illinois bar

• Zero to ten years of criminal defense trial experience

• Strong analytical and trial advocacy skills, commensurate with experience

• Excellent research, writing and communication skills

• Passion for social justice and addressing the harms of the criminal justice system

• High degree of cultural competency – ability to work with a diverse staff, clients, and community partners

• Highly resourceful and able to initiate and manage multiple projects and deadlines

• Flexible with and adaptable to changing job roles and responsibilities as may occur

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment

• Ability to work independently and effectively manage an active caseload

• Ability to perform in high stress situations

• Ability to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as necessary

• Emotional maturity, good judgment, integrity, tolerance of differing points of view and beliefs, and commitment to nonviolence

• Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice and trauma-informed practices

• Valid driver's license, ability to drive, and auto insurance

About our North Lawndale and Surrounding Community

As a result of decades of disinvestment, “white flight”, redlining, and other harbingers of systemic poverty and violence, North Lawndale area suffers from high levels of poverty, economic hardship, violence, and over-policing. In North Lawndale, approximately 850 officers are assigned to the two police districts that patrol 35,000 residents. In addition, a significant percentage of specialized units (which are historically aggressive and abusive) rove in our community. More than 1,500 youth are arrested in the North Lawndale area yearly, the second highest rate in Chicago. Indiscriminate stops and searches of North Lawndale area residents are a daily occurrence; 66% of adults surveyed perceived no legitimate reason for their most recent police stop. A startling 59% of adults in North Lawndale have been arrested, 30% convicted, and 27% jailed. 

Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges of violence, poverty, and police brutality that our youth encounter in North Lawndale and the surrounding communities, they demonstrate hope, resolve, and a drive to succeed and make their neighborhoods better places. We are continually inspired by our clients’ resilience and positivity in the face of external challenges. It is both an honor and a privilege to help them walk away from the criminal justice system and equip them to take control of their future. 

North Lawndale is a vibrant and resilient community, and we are proud to be a part of it. Our founding office is located by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Apartments and Exhibit Center, built on the site where Dr. King lived for six months during his Chicago Freedom Campaign in 1966. Our second office, the recently opened Dr. Dennis Deer Community Justice Center, is located in the nearby K-Town Historic District neighboring the 109-yr old Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. We are gratified by our affiliation with the Lawndale Christian Community Church and North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, two organizations that have done much to bring necessary health and legal services to our tightly knit North Lawndale community.

             Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Demonstrates alignment with LCLC’s vision, mission, and values

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of LCLC.

• Always acts in a professional manner and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.

• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others.

• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities prepared and on time.

• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of participants and coworkers.

• Transparency with work product for the purpose of quality control and employee reviews. Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor, and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others.

• Participates in cross-department collaboration, discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

Work Environment/Travel

While performing the duties of this job, the employee works mostly in the field with some occasional work in an office environment that is quiet to moderately loud, depending on the work area. Some local, county, or state travel may be required, which may include overnight stays. Occasional travel outside of the State of Illinois may be required. Must possess and maintain an applicable Illinois Driver License, clean driving record, and auto insurance that meets state requirements.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger; reach with hands and arms; climb and descend stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift or move up to 25 pounds. Requires normal range of motion, hearing and vision.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, with a hybrid work environment of at least three days in office as designated by the LCLC Employee Handbook, with periodic longer hours, including potential evenings, weekends, and odd hours.

Lawndale Christian Legal Center is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and organizational needs. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of those we serve.

North Lawndale, Austin, East Garfield Park, and Little Village residents, minorities, and individuals impacted by the criminal justice system encouraged to apply.