Staff Attorney - Chicago - Ascend Justice

Description

Staff Attorney - Immigrants & Workers' Rights (TSAP)

Organization

Legal Aid Chicago
200 North LaSalle Street
Suite 1400
Chicago , IL 60601
United States

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.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position may require travel to court or other outreach events.

Position: Legal Aid Chicago seeks a full‑time Staff Attorney to work in the Trafficking Survivor Assistance Project (TSAP) within the Immigrants & Workers' Rights Practice Group (IWR). IWR includes the areas of employment, immigration, migrant farmworker, and human trafficking law. IWR's four teams work independently and in an interdisciplinary manner, when these areas of law intersect. This position works collaboratively within a supportive team of attorneys and paralegals and reports to an experienced Supervisory Attorney.

This role provides the opportunity to collaborate with survivors of human trafficking, with a focus on labor trafficking, immigration law, and victim advocacy. TSAP prides itself in trauma‑informed, client‑led, and wrap‑around advocacy; advice, brief services, full and limited scope representation to individuals and families applying for affirmative relief before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State, and defensive relief before the Executive Office of Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals; and victim advocacy for survivors. Areas of primary practice include T visas and T visa‑based adjustment of status applications, however, the position also includes representation in a diversity of immigration applications and advocacy for collateral needs, such as victim representation, social work and public benefits.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload and provide full and limited scope legal representation
• Interview eligible clients on a wide range of Immigration issues and provide advice and brief services for eligible immigrants with a focus on identifying trafficking
• Participate in advocacy to address systemic issues
• Participate in weekly team meetings to present new cases and reach team consensus on representation
• Represent clients in applications before USCIS, DOS, and EOIR in detained and non‑detained proceedings
• Represent and advocate for victims
• Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago staff, students, and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
• Work with other IWR staff members in any interdisciplinary work
• Make appropriate referrals inside the organization and to external partners
• Maintain accurate case files and timely record time‑keeping in electronic case management system
• Assist with grant reporting, as appropriate and applicable
• Conduct community education outreach and build relationships with community partners
• Participate in training agencies, advocates, clients, or community groups about legal services and rights impacting vulnerable people
• Participate in other activities related to poverty law including publication, permissible legislative and administrative advocacy, media relations, and fundraising as needed
• Manage other duties as determined by the Supervisory Attorney and the Director

Qualifications

Legal Aid Chicago encourages applications from individuals with relevant experience, particularly those who have direct experience with communities we serve or perspectives that help us understand and serve our clients better.

• Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
  • Licensed to practice law in Illinois;
  • Licensed to practice law in another state and eligible to waive into the Illinois bar;
  • A law school graduate who has taken or will take the July 2025 Illinois bar exam and is eligible for a 711 license while awaiting results.
• Applicants must demonstrate professional working proficiency in Spanish
• All applicants must have at least two years' experience as a practicing attorney, with a strong preference for immigration law and/or legal support to trafficking victims/ witnesses involved in cases being prosecuted by law enforcement. Preferred experience includes advocacy for victims throughout the criminal investigation/case, including accompanying the survivor to law enforcement interviews, helping to seek restitution, and appearing as the victim representative in court.
• The ideal applicant will:
  • Possess strong oral and written communication skills, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to work well under pressure
  • Demonstrate strong client counseling skills based in a trauma informed approach
  • Be collegial and committed to working collaboratively within a team
  • Work effectively in cross‑cultural situations with clients, co‑workers, and the community we serve
  • Manage an independent caseload efficiently, ensuring internal and government deadlines are met

Pay scale and benefits

This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms, and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.

The budgeted salary range for this position is $69,433-$77,090, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bilingual Staff Attorneys are eligible for an additional stipend
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
• $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non‑profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

Position type

Full‑time

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. Apply here.

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, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, ex‑offender status, family responsibilities, reproductive health decisions or any other protected status.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.