About Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) was established in 1973 to serve the legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within Chicago"s Cabrini Green public housing community. Since then, CGLA has grown beyond a single neighborhood to become a citywide, countywide, and statewide leader in proactively filling the void of legal representation, wraparound services, legal information and resources, and advocacy exclusively for low-income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal legal system. Any engagement with the criminal legal system can greatly disrupt an individual, family, and community"s quality of life.

CGLA is distinguished among legal aid service providers locally, throughout Illinois, and nationally as having expertise in legal matters related to the direct and collateral consequences of the criminal legal system. Since 2014, we have been the sole legal aid services provider serving Cook County with the distinction of focusing exclusively on individuals and families who have been adversely impacted by the criminal legal system in all legal program areas: criminal records, emerging adults, criminal defense, housing law, and family law. We provide direct legal services, advocate for policy reforms, and provide legal information and resources to other legal aid organizations, pro bono attorneys, and the general public. We also support our clients holistically with wraparound social services from our social workers. Our policy and advocacy work is not performed as a separate entity; rather it is informed by our legal services and the lived experiences of our Leadership Council, an Advisory Group made up of former CGLA clients and community members directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

CGLA's Mission, Purpose and Vision

Mission: We provide holistic legal services that include social support services and advocacy for individuals and communities negatively impacted by the criminal legal system.Purpose: CGLA exists to remove barriers to equity in the criminal legal system.Vision: A more just and equitable criminal legal system.

Position Overview:

The primary responsibilities of the Staff Attorney include implementing CGLA's priorities in the criminal records practice and representing clients in criminal records-related matters through expungement and sealing, pardons, health care waivers, certificates and other legal remedies. This position also trains and assists fellows, interns, and volunteers to assure clients receive quality legal services and representation. The staff attorney is responsible for completing these duties while providing holistic legal services to their clients by collaborating with CGLA's attorneys in other program areas.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide direct legal services to CGLA clients in criminal records matters including at the virtual and in-person Expungement Help Desks, preparing petitions for self-represented litigants seeking to expunge and/or seal their juvenile and criminal records and advising them on next steps.

Cultivate and manage relationships with court and clerk personnel, workforce development agencies and other community-based organizations that have formal partnerships with CGLA.

Represent and advocate for partner clients in civil or criminal legal matters, assisting with housing law, family law, and criminal law cases as co-counsel with supervisory approval.

Schedule and conduct periodic visits to partner organizations to conduct staff training and on-site legal services at the agreed upon frequency defined in written agreements with partner agencies.

Collaborate with assigned Client Support Services team member to improve overall outcomes for clients who present social services needs according to screening criteria.

Represent self-represented litigants as a “friend of the court” during in-person and virtual court hearings at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court and other courthouses.

Assist in onboarding and training new staff, interns and volunteers.

Oversee the work of volunteer attorneys and law students at CGLA's Criminal Records Help Desks at the Daley Center and Markham Courthouse.

Maintain up-to-date client information in CGLA's case management system.

Assist with developing educational materials relating to criminal records matters.

Conduct in-person and online training classes for clients, volunteers, courts, partner organizations and other personnel as assigned.

Provide in-person advice, support, presentations and training at community and statewide criminal records forums and at community outreach and educational events.

Assist the Pro Bono Team in completing follow-up work for self-represented litigants as assigned.

Attend CLE classes and legal community meetings on relevant legal and social justice topics.

Work with the department supervisor to ensure all program goals are met each fiscal year.

Education:

Juris Doctor from ABA-accredited law school.Licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Experience:

0 to 3 years practice experience, preferably in criminal law.

Preferred Qualifications:

Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

Be self-driven, highly energetic and innovative.

Ability to work collaboratively with staff, interns and volunteers.

Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines and produce quality results.

Superior interpersonal skills; comfortable working with a diverse population.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and orally.

Exemplary organizational skills and keen attention to detail.

Experience with Microsoft Suite Products

Spanish language skills are considered a plus.

Required Hours:

Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, 40 hours per week.NOTE: Non-traditional hours – occasional weekends and evenings – are required.

Physical Requirements:

Communicate clearly.

Understand the speech of another person.

Must be able to handle high levels of mental stress.

The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to type, handle, or feel and reach. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Travel Requirements:

Travel to the Richard J. Daley Center, the Markham Courthouse, and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center is required.

Travel to the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse and the Suburban Municipal District Courthouses may be required.

Travel to external workforce development organizations, anti-violence organizations, and other community-based organizations throughout Chicago and Cook County is also required.

Travel to other Illinois counties occasionally required.

Working Conditions:

CGLA has implemented a telecommuter and flexible work policy that allows employees to perform some work remotely at the employee's home or at an approved offsite location. Employees must have adequate internet access to work from home. If working in the office, you must be able to work in an open office setting with moderate noise levels. Employee must have reliable internet access to work remotely.

Benefits:

We offer a generous benefits plan that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield - Health insurance, Vision Service Plan – Vision insurance, Principal Dental insurance and 100% employer paid life insurance, (EAP) Employee Assistance Program, Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, Pet insurance, Pre-Tax Programs for parking, local transit for Ventra and Metra and UberPool, and Vanguard 403(b) retirement matching. Additionally, CGLA offers generous Paid Time-off, Floating Holidays and 15 paid holidays per year. During the summer months we celebrate Summer Fridays by closing the office early.

CGLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

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Cabrini Green Legal Aid

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Staff Attorney, Criminal Records Relief