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 Download the Fall 2007 Recruitment Brochure
Download the 2007 Working at LAF Brochure
AVAILABLE POSITIONS
BI-LINGUAL PARALEGAL
HIV/AIDS PROJECT
Position: The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF) is seeking a paralegal bi-lingual in Spanish and English for its HIV/AIDS Project. The paralegal will be based at the downtown Chicago office but will travel to neighborhood and suburban offices, service providers, and outreach sites.
Background: LAF is the principal provider of free legal services to poor people in Cook County with a staff of approximately 100 legal-workers in six offices and many special projects.
The Project represents people with HIV/AIDS in housing, public benefits, discrimination, and other cases. The HIV/AIDS Project also provides housing advocacy to clients and training and legal assistance to case managers and service providers serving clients with HIV/AIDS.
Responsibilities: The Paralegal will maintain a caseload comprised of public benefits cases, including representing clients at Public Aid and Social Security Administration hearings. The Paralegal will also be responsible for participating in community outreach and case manager training, particularly within Spanish-speaking communities. The position will also include litigation support activities, such as preparing basic documents and compiling information for court cases. Additional duties include telephone intake, interviewing clients, and assisting in Project administration.
Qualifications: Applicants must be bi-lingual in Spanish and English. Applicants should be skilled in oral and written communication and advocacy; organized; and experienced in community outreach, client organizing, or lay training. Applicants should be committed and sensitive to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Applicants should have word processing and computer data management (such as time-keeping) skills. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree. Applicants who are familiar with public benefits programs will be preferred.
Salary and Benefits: Salary depends upon experience. Generous fringe benefits.
Applications: The position will remain open until filled. Send a cover letter, resume, writing sample and two work-related references, by May 27, 2008 to:
Michelle J. Gilbert, Supervisory Attorney
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
111 West Jackson, 3rd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60604
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(Attention HIV/AIDS Project)
LAF Is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Does Not Discriminate on the Basis of Disability.
PART-TIME STAFF ATTORNEY
FEDERAL COURT – SELF-HELP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Background: The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF), a not-for-profit corporation, is the principal provider of free civil legal services to low-income and elderly persons in Chicago and suburban Cook County. In 2006, LAF, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the Chicago Bar Foundation launched a program, the first of its kind in the country, to assist individuals without legal representation who have been sued, wish to file their own lawsuits, or are parties to pending lawsuits in the Northern District. The program is housed at the federal court and is staffed by two part-time LAF attorneys who provide limited legal assistance to pro se litigants.
Position: LAF is seeking a part-time attorney to work three days a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, staffing the Self-Help Assistance Program office. Pro se litigants make appointments to meet with attorneys through the District Court Clerk’s Office to get answers to procedural and substantive questions. The attorney provides information regarding federal court procedure, helps to draft court filings, discusses how the law applies to the facts described, and provides referrals to other resources. (S)he does not conduct independent examinations of fact, draft pleadings, or appear in court. Most pro se cases involve employment discrimination or other civil rights claims. The new attorney will work collaboratively with the existing Staff Attorney, under the supervision of LAF’s employment law supervisor, and will develop policies, procedures, and written materials as needed. The attorney will train and supervise volunteers who work in the program. The attorney will have access to other LAF attorneys in a wide variety of specialty areas. The attorney also will work closely with United States District Court personnel and with other organizations that help pro se litigants.
Qualifications: Illinois bar and a minimum of two years of litigation experience required. Experience in federal court preferred. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with people from all segments of society.
Salary: Salary depends on experience; generous fringe benefits
Applications:Send resume, a cover letter and two references by May 27, 2008 to:
Timothy Huizenga, Supervisory Attorney
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
111 W. Jackson Blvd., 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
(p) (312) 347-8377
(f) (312) 612-1477
E-mail: thuiz@lafchicago.org
LAF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
FLOATING INTAKE SPECIALIST - BILINGUAL
BACKGROUND: The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF), a not-for-profit corporation, is the principal provider of free civil legal services to low-income and elderly persons in Chicago and suburban Cook county. LAF has approximately 90 attorneys and 30 paralegals who work in five neighborhood offices; and one in the loop. LAF has many special projects including projects focusing on housing, immigration, family law, public benefits, and other poverty law issues.
POSITION: The Floating Intake Specialist functions as relief staff for all LAF offices and projects. Intake responsibilities include conducting telephone and in-person interviews to determine eligibility for service and to identify basic legal problems and case facts. Entering client information directly into the automated case management system as the interview progresses and after consulting with an attorney, providing information and referral to other agencies or resources or offering alternative legal and non-legal strategies and giving appropriate legal advice. Other duties include handling both in office and out of office Spanish/English interpreting including interpreting in court and at administrative hearing. Translation of written documents from English to Spanish and Spanish to English will also be required. The Floating Intake Specialist regularly relieves office receptionists and performs light word processing and clerk work as needed. An automobile is required as some neighborhood offices are not readily accessible to public transportation.
QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate will be a quick learner with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills who can work under pressure. (S)he will be flexible and have the ability to work effectively, passionately, and professionally with clients and staff. It is important for the candidate to be comfortable working both independently and as part of a team. (S)he must be fluent (speaking, reading, and writing) in Spanish and English, as being asked to translate is a frequent requirement of the position.
SALARY: Actual salary dependent upon experience. Generous fringe benefits.
TO APPLY: Email your cover letter and résumé. No telephone calls accepted.
Email:
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Subject: FLOATING INTAKE
LAF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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