Staff Attorney

Job Description

The Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is seeking a mid-level Staff Attorney to join our Law Project team to advocate for people experiencing homelessness in Illinois through both direct representation and policy advocacy in the areas of civil rights and public benefits and to work to advance racial equity. 

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

About CCH  

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is a 42-year-old systemic advocacy organization. CCH develops campaigns and initiatives to address the causes of homelessness – lack of affordable housing, lack of access to health care and services and lack of jobs paying a living wage. We place much emphasis on organizing and developing leaders who have experienced homelessness to become spokespersons and leaders of our various initiatives. CCH does its work in accordance with its organizational values – collaboration, integrity, strategic action, compassion, and intersectionality. We recognize that homelessness is a problem that stems from systemic racism and that biases and prejudices are embedded in the fabric of society, and thus, also permeate organizations like ours. CCH is committed to advancing racial equity in the workplace, through the work of our racial equity committee, and through the campaigns and initiatives we choose. 

Job Responsibilities  

• Provide civil legal services to people experiencing homelessness. Areas of focus include civil rights and public benefits, including Social Security hearings.  Other areas of law may include access to identification documents, housing and criminal law. 
• Conduct regular legal clinics and community outreach to unsheltered communities and through the Law Project’s Youth Futures Mobile Legal Clinic at various shelters and drop-in centers, schools, health centers and other community locations serving youth ages 14-24.  
• Participate in the Law Project’s impact litigation to address systemic issues and barriers to people experiencing homelessness, including civil rights cases. 
• Participate in local and state-level coalitions and campaigns to promote policies and laws to protect the rights of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness and to reduce barriers to accessing health care and public benefits for homeless youth and adults.  
• Assist Law Project staff on other projects as needed.   
• Develop and conduct trainings for attorneys and other professionals on civil rights, public benefits, health care and other legal rights of people experiencing homelessness. 
• Collaborate with the Law Project’s Public Benefits Specialist in public benefits cases. 
• Supervision of law student and social work student interns, possible future supervision opportunities 
• Work in collaboration with all CCH departments—CCH believes strongly in interdepartmental collaboration and expects all staff to work in close partnership with the other departments at the organization. 

Qualifications/Skills  

Required:  

• J.D. degree and currently licensed or eligible to waive in to practice law in Illinois   
• Mid-level legal experience in a legal aid organization or other setting providing direct representation 
• Experience and an interest in civil rights, public benefits and health law and policy, and/or criminal law.  In addition to professional experience in these areas, experience can include personal experience with homelessness, poverty and other issues affecting our clients.  
•  Experience working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds   
•  Experience working in communities impacted by poverty and a desire to spend a significant amount of time out in the community providing legal services and engaging in outreach  
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and work to advance racial equity  
• Self-direction and self-motivation and the ability to work independently  
• Demonstrated strong research and writing skills 

Preferred: 

• Experience representing individuals in administrative hearings or in litigation  
• Experience and interest in criminal law 
• Experience working with young people ages 14 to 24-years-old   
• Valid driver’s license 

Salary range

$60,000 to 72,000 based on experience, highly competitive benefits package, including health insurance (90% of premium paid by organization), four weeks of paid vacation, sabbatical program and student loan repayment assistance program and more. 

To Apply

Please send resume, cover letter, references and writing sample to Patricia Nix-Hodes at lawproject@chicagohomeless.org. 

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Chicago Coalition for the Homeless believes that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognizes and values the intersectional identities that staff members bring to our organization. We are enriched by the diverse experiences, beliefs, and ways of thinking that employees of different backgrounds bring.  

People of color and people who have experienced homelessness or poverty are strongly encouraged to apply. Fair consideration is given to all qualified applicants regardless of criminal record. CCH is committed to providing equal employment consideration without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status.