Central Illinois Paralegal

We are now hiring a full-time Paralegal to join the Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group within our Legal Aid Society team- serving Central Illinois.

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do.

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) 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. Are you looking to have an impact on more than just a company’s bottom line? Then we’d love to hear from you!

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. 

The Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group (IRSJ) provides legal representation to victims of crime and currently has projects that focus specifically on services to victims of human trafficking and immigrant victims of crime. In addition, IRSJ engages in numerous direct outreaches, training, and technical assistance throughout Central Illinois. As part of a trauma informed practice, we believe in reducing barriers to assist clients, which includes being willing to meet with clients in safe locations outside of our main office location in Decatur.

Are you mission-driven and passionate about fighting for the rights of vulnerable populations? Then we encourage you to apply! The paralegal will support attorneys' work with victims of human trafficking and labor exploitation. Using a collaborative team approach, the paralegal will support attorney' efforts with crime victim rights advocacy and enforcement, immigration relief as needed, and pursuing civil remedies to recover damages.

This is largely a remote position, with monthly visits to our Decatur office as needed. The Paralegal will need to travel throughout Central Illinois to meet with clients, including Bloomington, Peoria, Champaign, Springfield, and Charleston. This role is ideal for candidates living in or near Central Illinois who want to make a direct impact in their community.

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $50,000 and $52,500 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based upon skill and experience level. Any offers given will be the best offer, and should be considered a firm offer.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Support attorneys in providing legal representation in civil litigation, orders of protection, credit repair, crime victim representation, and immigration relief for survivors of human trafficking and labor exploitation in Central Illinois.
•  Interview prospective clients to gather information needed to (a) determine eligibility and commence legal work; (b) identify urgent and unusual situations; (c) facilitate the provision of legal advice; (d) and organize and implement next steps to advance a case or connect client to additional services.
• Assist attorneys in client representation, litigation, and maintaining high volume caseload. Communicate with clients; draft pleadings, documents, and correspondence; manage court or administrative agency filing and scheduling; conduct factual investigations; gather and compile documentary and other evidence.
• Maintain documents, data, and other information required by various funders. Ensure all case files and case data are timely and accurately updated.
• Develop a basic knowledge of court and administrative agency practices in assigned area of work, and keeps other staff informed of developments. Help develop positive working relationships with court and agency personnel.
• Participate in community education, service planning, and public relations activities. May participate on various committees and task forces within the agency and with outside organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Strong writing, recordkeeping, organizational, and communications skills.
• Typing and computer operation skills sufficient to be able to draft documents.
• Ability to exercise appropriate independent judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university or higher, or ABA accredited paralegal certificate, or comparable experience demonstrating working knowledge of legal systems and concepts required.
• If not already certified, the paralegal must, upon hire, enroll for training and receive a 40-Hour Domestic Violence Certification within 12 weeks of employment required.
  
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) highly preferred.
• 1 year experience with civil litigation preferred. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screenings and background checks.

TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Travel throughout Central Illinois is required. Must have reliable transportation for travel throughout Central Illinois. Staff may utilize our corporate rental car account. Staff living more than 75 miles from the Central Illinois office (located in Decatur) may have different rules for timekeeping and mileage reimbursement.

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!

Some highlights include: 

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage, Guardian Dental Coverage, and VSP Vision Coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

And so much more! Make sure you click here to see the full suite of benefits offered! 

Some of the above benefits are available for part-time and temporary workers, but not all. Be sure to inquire upon your hire as to which benefits apply to you. 

MORE ABOUT US:

Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment. 

This job description is not designed to cover nor contain a comprehensive, exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities, and it is expected that employees understand there may be other duties assigned outside of the written language that appears here. Metropolitan Family Services reserves the right to amend, add, change, and/or remove responsibilities to meet business needs as necessary, at any time, with or without notice to employees.