Paralegal - Children & Families

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 in the greater Chicago area.

The Children & Families Practice Group represents survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in protective order and domestic relations cases against their abusers, advocates for students whose right to an education is threatened, and defends parents against unwarranted intrusions by the State into their right to parent.

Position: Legal Aid Chicago has two openings for full-time paralegals in the Children & Families Practice Group with an immediate start date. These positions will report to a Supervising Attorney.

Responsibilities include:

• 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.

Salary 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 $46,675-$51,428, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 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 

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.

To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. For applicants with previous work experience, at least one reference must be a former supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

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.

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at [email protected].

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