Immigration Staff Attorney - Waukegan

PSLS is seeking an Immigration Staff Attorney to join our team in the Waukegan office. Immigration staff attorneys at PSLS provide legal assistance to immigrants who are survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence. This includes various family and humanitarian immigration matters and may include housing, employment, consumer, and family law matters. Prairie State is the only legal aid organization in the majority of our area, and we pride ourselves on providing high-quality legal services to our clients while fostering a work environment that is motivating, collaborative, and rewarding, with plenty of opportunities for professional growth.

Responsibilities

Among other duties as assigned, the Immigration Staff Attorney will:

• Interview applicants for legal services and assess their legal issues with a focus on those issues that have an immediate impact on their basic human needs
• Provide legal services including, legal research and factual investigation, counsel and advice, brief services and document preparation, dispute resolution and representation of clients in administrative, and judicial proceedings
• Represent clients in various types of family and humanitarian immigration matters, including U Visa, T Visa, SIJ, and VAWA self-petitions, and in related housing, consumer, public benefits, and family law matters
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise in changing immigration law, policies, and procedure
• Develop and maintain networking relationships with local bar associations and with local, state, and federal governments and community agencies that serve our client population
• Exhibit a high level of personal energy, organization, and commitment to the position and the PSLS mission
• Conduct outreach events with client communities, including client education and intake events at community partner locations
• Provide accurate and complete information for grant reporting to grant funders, including documenting services in the case record
• Exhibit a high level of personal energy, organization, and commitment to the position and the PSLS mission
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the PSLS mission
  
  

Salary And Benefits

The Staff Attorney position is a full-time position at 37.5 hours per week. PSLS offers a salary that is competitive with similar organizations. The salary range for the Staff Attorney position is $70,000 - $90,231 annually and increases with each year of relevant experience. PSLS is committed to providing an excellent, comprehensive benefits package to its full-time employees that includes:

• Health insurance, including the opportunity to qualify for a wellness credit
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan including employer contributions
• Extensive training and education program
• PTO that starts at 3 weeks/year and increases with additional years worked at PSLS
• Flex scheduling and partial remote work available
• Paid sick leave
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
• 12 Paid holidays
  
  

Qualifications

• Candidates currently admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois, or admitted in another state and eligible for reciprocity in Illinois are preferred. Consideration will be given to law graduates who will be sitting for the next bar exam.
• Experience in trial advocacy and negotiation preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent oral/written communication, research skills, and computer competency
• Organizational and case management proficiency
• Ability to work effectively as a team member
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required
• Some travel is required; applicant must have a valid driver's license and/or reliable transportation
• We will give preference to candidates who have experience providing services to low-income individuals
  
  

PSLS is an equal opportunity employer that strives to create a diverse and inclusive working environment. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, religion, sex, disability, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service, or other characteristics protected by law.