STAFF ATTORNEY

JOBANNOUNCEMENT STAFF ATTORNEY Bilingual English-Spanish Remote-Hybrid Position

LifeSpanempowerssurvivorsofdomesticandsexualviolencetodemandsafetyasahumanright through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement, and systemic advocacy.

Life Span seeks a bilingual English-Spanish proficient staff attorney with 0-5 years of experience tojoinourFamilyLawteamatourChicagoLoopofficelocationoralternatelybasedonpreference and experience level, may work at the Life Span Des Plaines office based at supervisor's discretion.

Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to victims of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompass such issues as immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil nocontact orders, the effects of trauma on clients and their children, teen dating violence, and the criminalization of survivors. Our agency has two sites, and services are available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic. All services are free of charge. Our agency provides national leadership in policy work and systemic advocacy, and our staff has trained advocates, lawyers, judges, counselors and other professionals in Illinois and across the country on critical issues and innovative practices.

LifeSpan values staff who reflect the communities we serve-in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve.

PositionSummary: Thestaffattorneywillassistsurvivorswiththeirdomesticrelations(divorces) orparentage(unmarriedcouples)cases. Theattorneywillgaininvaluableexperienceinnegotiations,settlementconferences,litigation(includingdrafting,depositions,discovery,pretrialconferences,as wellascontestedhearingsandtrials).Responsibilitiesincludecivilrepresentationinordersofprotection,familylawandcivilnocontactordersforclientswithdomesticviolenceand/orsexualassaultissues. Theattorneywillcollaboratewithcounselingadvocacyandimmigrationstafftoprovideacordinatedresponse toclients’needs. Thestaffattorneywillparticipateinsystemicadvocacyandpolicyreform.

Professional Development Support:

• In-houseandexternaltrainingandCLE’sareencouragedatthestartofemploymentand throughout tenure at Life Span.
• Mentorshipandguidancearegiventoallstaffattorneys,especiallytoentry-levelattorneys.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide trauma-informed, client-centered legal representation to survivors of domesticviolence,sexual violence,andotherformsofinterpersonalviolenceinfamilylawmatters,includingordersofprotection, divorce, parentage, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and related proceedings.
• Conductclientintakeinterviews,assessclientsituationsandlegalneeds,adviseclientsregardingtheirlegal rights and options, and develop appropriate case strategies.
• Assistclients withcreatingasa safetyplanandprovidereferrals tootherneededservices.
• Prepare,review,andfilepleadings,motions,petitions,affidavits,andotherlegal documents,and conduct legal research as needed.
• Representclients in courthearings, trials, settlementconferences, mediation proceedings, and legal matters.
• Manage an active caseload; maintain accurate and timely case records; protect client confidentiality; and ensure compliance with court dates, filing deadlines, ethical obligations, grant requirements, and organizational policies.
• Work effectively with clients from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and collaborate with advocates, paralegals, counselors, and community partners to provide comprehensive services and support.
• Participate in community outreach, legal education, training, and other program activities that advance Life Span’s mission.
• Assist with data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements related to grants, contracts, and program operations.
• Must be able to travel to and from courthouses and Life Span offices throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs as needed.

Qualifications:

o Licensed to practice law in Illinois.

o 0-5 years of relevant legal experience.

o Experience working with domestic violence victims in family law cases.

o Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.

o English-Spanish language fluency at bilingual level is required for this position.

LocationandHours: The Bilingual English-Spanish Staff Attorney position is a full-time 40 hours/week position. This position may be based in either the Chicago office or at the Life Span Des Plaines office at supervisor’s discretion based on staff preference and experience level. If a Des Plaines based office is authorized, periodic travel to the Chicago office and Chicago courthouses will be required to attend court onboarding, and legal meetings. If a Chicago location is authorized, periodic travel to the Skokie and Rolling Meadows courthouses to represent clients and attend court proceedings is required.

Chicago Office Accessibility:

Life Span's Chicago office is conveniently located near CTA rail service, including the Pink, Orange, Blue, Purple, and Green Lines, and is also accessible via Metra through Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center.

DesPlainesOffice Accessibility:

Life Span is located in downtown Des Plaines, steps away from the METRA station, and accessible via the Blue Line / Pace transit. Des Plaines is a Northwest Chicago suburb, near O’Hare, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Norridge, and Arlington Heights suburbs. Free building parking is available.

Hybrid Remote Position: This is a hybrid remoteposition following a period of onboarding and orientation training. Remote work up to 16 hours per week at the discretion of Life Span. Internet access is required. Must be accessible and available during work hours by phone, email and Teams to perform essential functions of this position.

Compensation: LifeSpan values staff as our most important resource; we offer a competitive salary, generous benefits, and opportunities for professional development. Starting salary is $70,000 commensurate with experience. Bilingual staff may receive an additional $2,000 per year. Benefits include generous vacation, sick, and miscellaneous leave; nineteen paid holidays; Summer Fridays; health, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability insurance; a 403(b)-retirement plan; pre-tax public transit benefits; Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) plans; and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Loan Forgiveness Benefit: LifeSpan isaqualifyingemployerforthefederalPSLF program.

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