Position Description:
CALA is looking for a staff attorney with genuine interest in community lawyering, connecting the law with grassroots activism, and being part of a new legal services model. The attorney will have three primary responsibilities: 1) staff CALA’s community law office in Lake County once a week, 2) handle immigration cases, and 3) practice one additional area of law. CALA uses its model, "community activism lawyering," to unite lawyers and activists to collaboratively help underserved communities access justice and pursue social change. Through these partnerships, CALA creates “community activism-law programs” within and co-operated by communities. CALA accomplishes its two principal objectives at once: provide cost-effective legal services to underserved individual clients and help our activist partners achieve broader social change. Through our work, CALA seeks to change not only how the legal aid system operates but also how lawyers and activists work together.
The starting salary range is $50,000-$65,000 and will be commensurate with experience, qualifications and salary history—and is negotiable. Benefits include medical insurance, travel reimbursement, generous paid time off, coverage of professional fees. 403(b) plan-matching and bonuses are also available, contingent upon annual fundraising. Depending on experience, there may be an opportunity for the selected candidate to be promoted to senior attorney.
Requirements:
Candidates should have at minimum 2 years of experience in immigration, housing, or family. Candidates must be willing to commute once a week to Lake County—or twice a week to Chicago for those who live in Lake County—and be comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment. They must also be prepared to work some non-traditional hours—evenings and the occasional weekend day—and in non-traditional, multiple locations; in exchange, they are afforded great flexibility in work schedule. Preference may be given to applicants who are fluent in Spanish.
To apply:
CALA is an equal opportunity workplace and is committed to working closely and effectively with the communities that we serve. Individuals self-identifying as people of color, LGBTQI, socio- economically diverse, persons with a disability, or as otherwise having backgrounds and experiences underrepresented in the legal profession are highly encouraged to apply. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, references, recent writing sample for an immigration case, and salary history to hiring@calachicago.org. We will accept applications until the position is filled.
Salary range:
$50,000-65,000