Staff Attorney - West Suburban

Prairie State Legal Services is seeking a Staff Attorney with an interest in Elder Law to join our team in the West Suburban Office. Staff attorneys at PSLS provide comprehensive legal assistance to vulnerable older adults, including those requiring long-term care via nursing home, supportive living, assisted housing, or in-home care and those who are victims of elder abuse. At PSLS, our attorneys offer a comprehensive range of legal services to some of the most vulnerable members of our community, including low-income individuals, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. We focus on addressing legal issues that affect our clients' ability to meet their basic human needs, such as physical safety, healthcare access, adequate housing, and financial security. As the primary legal aid provider in most of our service area, PSLS is committed to delivering high-quality legal services while promoting a work environment that is motivating, collaborative, and rewarding, offering ample opportunities for professional growth.

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

• Provide victim-centered direct legal services - legal screening, advice, brief service, direct representation-to older victims to address civil legal issues that arise from the victimization
• 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
• Develop and maintain networking relationships with local bar associations and with local, state, and federal governments and community agencies that serve older adults
• 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
• Actively participate in an internal task force related to one or more areas of our practice
• Exhibit a high level of personal energy, organization, and commitment to the position and the PSLS mission
• Actively contribute and participate in Elder Justice Program cohort activities (resource exchanges; mandatory webinars and conference calls; and trainings including Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training.

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 for newly licensed attorneys 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
• Flex scheduling and partial remote work available
• PTO that starts at 3 weeks/year and increases with additional years worked at PSLS
• Paid sick leave
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
• 12 Paid holidays

Qualifications

• Candidates who are 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.