Staff Attorney - Family Law
Full Time • Hybrid - US
Benefits:
- FSA Health, Dependent Care, and Commute Plan
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Training & development
Supervised by: Director, Family Law Program
Status: Full-time
Essential Responsibilities
Client Services (approximately 95% of the position)
- Provide high-quality representation for survivors of domestic violence seeking remedies in the Domestic Relations Division.
- Manage a case load of ongoing Domestic Relations cases, including effective representation of clients in contested hearings.
- Deliver services according to principles of trauma-informed care.
- Perform intake functions, interviewing potential clients to evaluate cases for representation.
- Maintain client files, noting all deadlines, communications, and other relevant information.
- Coordinate with the agency’s Client Support Coordinators and other colleagues to ensure that the client receives seamless, holistic services.
Volunteers (approximately 5% of the position)
- Supervise volunteers, including attorneys, students, and student interns, as needed.
Other Responsibilities
- Actively participate in required staff meetings and trainings.
- Keep abreast of the field by maintaining networks and participating in professional organizations.
- Protect the organization by keeping information confidential.
- Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Work Environment
- This position is approximately 40% in person, 60% remote, but these proportions are subject to change.
- Courthouse and offices are fully accessible. Some work at off-site locations may be required and those may not necessarily be fully accessible.
- Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required.
- This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employee is regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer.
- Smoke- and drug-free environment.
Qualifications
- Licensed to practice law in Illinois; or the ability to become licensed in Illinois in the near term
- 1-3 years of experience preferred
- Bilingual in Spanish/English Required, including the ability to interview and represent clients with limited or no English-speaking abilities
- Must have completed or be willing to complete 40-hour Domestic Violence training
- Litigation and family law experience preferred
- Ability to develop and implement short and long-term litigation strategies
- Familiarity with principles of trauma-informed care and willingness to complete additional training
- Strong self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations
- Knowledge of or experience with working with survivors of gender-based or intimate partner violence
- Ability to work in a fast-paced legal environment
- Ability to communicate effectively with people in crisis
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent communication and time management skills
- Sense of humor
Ascend Justice is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. Ascend Justice does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual’s race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, or any other non-merit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Ascend Justice is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team. Applicants/clients wishing to lodge a complaint about discrimination in the provision of services can do so by contacting the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The ICJIA nondiscrimination policy can be found on the ICJIA website at http://www.icjia.org/grants/grant-resources. Applicants can also send complaints via e-mail to CJA.CivilRightsOfficer@illinois.gov
Flexible work from home options available.
Compensation: $62,500.00 - $72,500.00 per year
About Us
Mission
Our mission is to empower individuals and families impacted by gender-based violence or the child welfare system to achieve safety and stability through holistic legal advocacy and system reform.
We are working toward strong communities where people have the power to navigate fair systems and overcome violence.
Legal Advocacy
Legal Advocacy
We currently provide the following types of legal assistance to individuals and families:
- Economic legal services for survivors of gender-based violence such as help with finances and housing
- Family defense legal services for families who have DCFS investigations or appeals
- Family law services for survivors of gender-based violence such as help with divorces, custody arrangements, visitation, and child support
- Orders of protection services for survivors of gender-based violence
- Immigration services for survivors of gender-based violence
Our services are unique and holistic, and many clients are served by a team of attorneys and other professionals who help address the range of legal needs they are facing. Many of our clients also benefit from being able to work with a client support coordinator, who can provide additional emotional support and help with logistics for individuals or families who are going through a particularly challenging time.
Our History
Our History
Founded in 1982 and incorporated in 1989 as Pro Bono Advocates, Ascend Justice has four decades of experience meeting the needs of survivors of domestic violence. From 2005 until 2019 we were known as the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic. In 2019 we merged with the Family Defense Center and rebranded as Ascend Justice. Throughout our history, we’ve worked to increase the safety and independence of survivors of domestic violence with skilled, compassionate legal representation.
Our Order of Protection Clinic and our domestic relations practices are our longest-standing client services. Our long-time location in the Cook County Circuit Court Domestic Violence Courthouse allows us to offer emergency legal services related to Orders of Protection and teams of volunteers work with staff attorneys to assist these clients with brief services, legal advice, and, in some cases, legal representation at the emergency stage of litigation.
Our second office on State Street, offers longer-term legal representation and assistance in the family law, immigration, economic justice, and family defense matters that are linked to the long-term safety of survivors and their children. In addition, Client Support Coordinators in both offices help with safety planning, emotional support, and connections to the resources necessary for safety and independence.
In March 2021, Ascend Justice launched an innovative new practice serving incarcerated survivors of domestic violence. Two attorneys collaborate with the Illinois Department of Corrections and Cook County Jail to provide civil legal services to survivors in women’s correctional facilities.
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