Description
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’s Employment Law team in the Immigrants and Workers’ Rights Practice Group seeks a full-time paralegal to assist its Employment attorneys in cases involving workers’ rights. This position will operate with a hybrid schedule of both remote and in-person work at our office at 120 S. LaSalle. The candidate selected will support attorneys as they advocate for workers’ rights in their claims against unlawful discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, retaliation, claims for workplace accommodations of disabilities, claims for wage theft, and claims on behalf of workers who have lost their jobs for unemployment benefits, among other matters. This position reports to a Supervisory Attorney.
Responsibilities:
- Provide litigation support to Employment attorneys, including court and administrative agency filings, document collection, outreach materials, drafting letters, and file maintenance
- Assist with case assessment and preparation, including obtaining clients’ personnel files from their employers, filing administrative complaints, obtaining supporting documents for pending cases
- Conduct intake and interview clients to determine the nature of their potential claims and possible remedies
- Provide advice and referral to individuals not accepted as clients and make appropriate referrals to additional or alternative legal services and to necessary social services
- Maintain knowledge of the case acceptance criteria of other Legal Aid Chicago Practice Groups to facilitate appropriate internal referrals
- Make appropriate referrals inside Legal Aid Chicago and to external partners
- Assist attorneys with administrative tasks and support attorneys in all stages of litigation
- After receiving training, have full responsibility for representing clients in hearings before Administrative Law Judges in their claims for unemployment benefits
- Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant issues
- Assist with investigations
- Track data related to grant and assist on related reporting
- Assist with outreach and trainings
- Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case management system
- Other duties as designated by the Supervisor or 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, generous paid time off, and much more.
Requirements
- Undergraduate degree strongly preferred
- Applicants must have excellent oral and written skills, including the ability to draft letters and basic pleadings
- Good organizational and information-gathering skills are essential, as is the ability to work collaboratively with others
- 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
- Spanish proficiency is a plus
To Apply: To Apply: A cover letter, resume, and the contact information for two professional references are required to apply. This position will remain open until filled.
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.