STAFF ATTORNEY

JOBANNOUNCEMENT
STAFF ATTORNEY
BilingualEnglish-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’sdiscretion based on staff preferenceand experience level.

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 issues such as immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil no contact 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.

Life Span 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.Theattorney willgain invaluableexperience innegotiations, settlement conferences, litigation(including drafting,depositions,discovery,pretrial conferences, as wellas contested hearings and trials).Responsibilities include civil representation in orders of protection, family law and civil no contact orders for clients with domestic violence and/or sexual assault issues.Theattorneywillcollaboratewithcounseling advocacy and immigration staff to provide a coordinated response to clients’ needs. The staff attorney will participate in systemic advocacy and policy reform.

ProfessionalDevelopment&Support:

• In-house and external training and CLE’s are encouraged at the start of employment and throughout tenure at Life Span.
• Mentorship and guidance are given to all staff attorneys, especially to entry-level attorneys.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide trauma-informed, client-centered legal representation to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence in family law matters, including orders of protection, divorce, parentage, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and related proceedings.
• Conduct client intake interviews, assess clients situations and legal needs, advise clients regarding their legal rights and options, and develop appropriate case strategies.
• Assist clients with creating a safety plan and provide referrals to other needed services.
• Prepare, review, and file pleadings, motions, petitions, affidavits, and other legal documents, and conduct legal research as needed.
• Represent clients in court hearings, trials, settlement conferences, mediation proceedings, and other 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:

Licensed to practice law in Illinois.

0-5years of relevant legal experience.

Experience working with domestic violence victims in family law cases.

Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.

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

LocationandHours:

TheBilingualEnglish-SpanishStaffAttorneypositionisafull-time40hours/week position.This position may be based in either the Chicago office or at the Life Span Des Plaines office at supervisor’sdiscretion based on staff preferenceand experiencelevel.Ifa DesPlainesbased officeis authorized, periodic travel to the Chicagooffice and Chicago courthouses will be required to attend court onboarding,andlegalmeetings.IfaChicagolocationisauthorized, periodictraveltotheSkokieandRolling Meadowscourthouses to represent clients and attend court proceedings is required.

ChicagoOffice Accessibility:

Life Span'sChicagoofficeisconvenientlylocatednearCTArailservice,includingthePink,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 theBlueLine/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 periodofonboardingandorientation training.Remote work upto 16 hours per week at the discretion of Life Span.Internet access is required.Mustbe accessibleand available during work hours by phone, email and Teams to perform essential functions of this position.

Compensation:

LifeSpanvaluesstaffasourmostimportantresource;weofferacompetitive salary, generous benefits, and opportunities for professional development.Starting salary is $70,000commensurate with experience.Bilingual staff may receive an additional $2,000 per year.Benefits includegenerousvacation,sick,andmiscellaneousleave;nineteenpaidholidays;SummerFridays; health, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability insurance; a 403(b)-retirement plan; pre-taxpublictransitbenefits;FlexibleSpendingAccount(FSA)andDependentCareAccount(DCA)plans; andanEmployeeAssistanceProgram(EAP).

LoanForgivenessBenefit:

LifeSpanisaqualifyingemployerforthefederalPSLFprogram.