Part-time Staff Attorney Incarcerated Survivors
Ascend Justice
Part-time Staff Attorney Incarcerated Survivors
Part Time • Ascend Justice
Supervised by: Director of the Family Law Program
Status: Part-time
ASCEND JUSTICE is seeking a part-time attorney in the Family Law Program to work specifically with women and gender-expansive clients who have been incarcerated or are under correctional control. This role involves screening potential clients for legal issues in a wide variety of areas, with an increased focus on family law. This position involves a partnership between Ascend Justice and the Women’s Justice Institute supporting the City of Chicago’s first Community Reentry Support Center (CRSC) specifically for women and gender-expansive people who are impacted by the criminal legal system.
This role involves:
- Providing screenings for a minimum of six to eight potential clients each month to identify potential legal issues in areas related to family law, order of protection, immigration, family defense, economic justice, social security, public benefits, housing law, and criminal records.
- Create a referral network for identified legal issues outside of Ascend Justice program areas.
- Facilitate internal referrals for potential clients with identified legal issues within Ascend Justice priorities.
- Carry a caseload of 8-10 cases related to family law with varying levels of service, including advice, brief services, drafting of court documents, and full representation in court.
This position involves a hybrid schedule, with some work in person either at the offices of Ascend Justice (177 N. State Street, Chicago) or at the Women’s Justice Institute’s Reclamation Center (2150 S. Canal port, Chicago). While some work hours are set, the position involves a high degree of flexibility in terms of scheduling. Some evening or weekend hours may be required, including one Saturday per month. This position will also include some travel throughout the city of Chicago. An ideal candidate will have prior legal experience in family law and/or working with survivors impacted by gender-based violence and/or incarceration.
Essential Responsibilities
- Provide screenings for legal needs for clients impacted by the criminal legal system and reentering the city of Chicago.
- Provide a variety of advice and brief service appointments, including preparation of court documents.
- Manage a caseload of ongoing cases at varying levels of service, including in-court representation.
- 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 Coordinator and other colleagues to ensure that clients receive seamless, holistic services.
- Supervise volunteers including attorneys, students and interns.
Other Responsibilities
- Actively participate in required staff meetings and trainings.
- Keep abreast of the field by maintaining networks, participating in professional organizations.
- Protect the organization by keeping information confidential.
- Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Work Environment
- Courthouse and offices are fully accessible. Some work at off-site locations may be required, and those may not necessarily be fully accessible.
- Evening, weekend, and overnight work/travel are occasionally required, including a minimum of one Saturday per month.
- 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
- Must have completed or be willing to complete 40-hour Domestic Violence training
- Experience working with incarcerated or formerly incarcerated populations or personal experience preferred, but not required
- Ability to develop and implement short- and long-term litigation strategies
- Passionate about Ascend Justice’s mission.
- 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 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 written and oral communication skills
- Flexible, self-motivated
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent communication and time management skills
- Sense of humor
As part of the hiring process, pre-employment verification of licenses and reference checks may be conducted internally by the agency. We do not utilize third-party vendors for these verifications.
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
Compensation: $31,250.00 - $36,250.00 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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