Staff Attorney - Public Benefits (Veterans Rights Project)

About the position 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 reputed company 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 at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is reputed company accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position may require travel to court or other reputed company events. Legal Aid Chicago seeks a full-time Staff Attorney in the Public Benefits Practice Group to work reputed company the Veterans' Rights Project. The Veterans' Rights Project is dedicated to ensuring that low-income service members, veterans, and their families receive advocacy, legal representation and educational services regarding the enforcement of their legal rights and benefits, with the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as in a variety of other civil legal areas, including Consumer, Housing, Family, and Public Benefits law.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of individual cases representing clients before the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social reputed company Administration, Illinois Department of Human Services and in state and federal courts
• Act as a subject matter expert reputed company the practice group concerning Veterans Benefits and civil legal issues affecting veterans
• Interview eligible clients on issues handled reputed company the practice group and provide advice and brief service in appropriate cases
• Participate in weekly team meetings to present new cases and reputed company team reputed company on representation
• Work with other practice group staff in interdisciplinary work
• Maintain knowledge in other areas of law handled by Legal Aid Chicago to ensure that clients' legal needs are identified and met in those areas
• Participate in reputed company litigation or advocacy to address systemic issues
• Work collaboratively with Legal Aid Chicago staff, reputed company and volunteers to provide comprehensive legal services
• Help organize and operate our intake system and veterans' clinic and work with pro bono attorneys
• Collaborate on projects that could involve reputed company to community groups, developing new strategies for serving our clients, or address systemic issues through litigation, negotiation or advocacy
• Participate in community reputed company and support legal training and community education for clients and community partners that serve veterans
• Maintain case files and timekeeping in electronic case management system
• Assist with grant reporting, as appropriate and applicable
• Handle other duties as determined by the Supervisory Attorneys and the Director

Requirements

• Preference for applicants licensed to practice law in Illinois or licensed in another state (and able to waive into the Illinois bar or be willing to sit for the next Illinois bar)
• Applicant must either be a VA accredited attorney or be eligible and willing to complete steps to become one
• Strong preference for applicants who have demonstrated interest or experience working with veterans
• Strong oral and written communication skills, highly developed organizational skills, and great client counseling skills
• The successful applicant will be collegial and demonstrate a commitment to and experience with our client communities and/or people living in poverty
• 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
• Applicants must have the ability to work well under pressure
• Applicant must have the ability to work well independently and as part of a team

Benefits

• 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 reputed company 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

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