Paralegal - Children & Families - Legal Aid Chicago

Illinois Legal Aid Online is dedicated to providing free civil legal assistance to those in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. They are seeking a full-time paralegal for their Children & Families Practice Group, which supports survivors of domestic violence and advocates for students and parents in legal matters. The role involves interviewing clients, providing litigation support, and maintaining case files.

Responsibilities

• Interview survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to intake new cases
• Present new cases at weekly case acceptance meetings
• Provide litigation support to attorneys in all stages of litigation including, but not limited to, drafting and responding to discovery and drafting of pleadings
• Participate in outreach and trainings at social service and other community agencies
• 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
• Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant issues
• Make appropriate referrals inside Legal Aid Chicago and to external partners
• 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
• Assist attorneys with administrative tasks and
• Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorneys and Directors

Skills

• Undergraduate degree strongly preferred
• Applicants must have excellent oral and written skills
• Spanish fluency strongly preferred but not required
• 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
• 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
• Good organizational and information-gathering skills as well as strong and versatile computer skills are essential
• Applicant must have the ability to work well independently and as part of a team

Benefits

• Bilingual staff 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
• 15 paid holidays and four (4) additional 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

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