Staff Attorney

ATTORNEY POSITION

Economic Justice Program

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, a nonprofit organization with a long and successful history of civil rights enforcement and advocacy, seeks an attorney to join our legal team and work to address systemic racism and advance economic opportunity, applying creative legal strategies through a community-driven advocacy model. The attorney will serve in the position as a Program Counsel or Senior Counsel depending on years of legal experience.

About the Role

The Program Counsel or Senior Counsel position is an exciting opportunity for an experienced

attorney who can bring vision, talent, and enthusiasm to the role at a time when defense of

nonprofits, investment and economic development in communities of color is needed more

than ever. The attorney will assist organizations navigating the impact of recent federal administration actions that threaten the historic work of nonprofits in serving underrepresented communities.

Candidates should have a strong commitment to community lawyering and be able to

share examples of relationship building and collaboration with community-based partners. The attorney must demonstrate a passion for racial equity, community empowerment, and economic justice and possess the skills needed to be a successful advocate, as well as an effective project manager.

The attorney will work substantially with our Economic Justice team to support nonprofit organizations and advocate for economic investment and resources for communities of color in the Chicagoland area. The attorney will report to the Director of the Economic Justice team. The attorney will also be expected to work as needed with colleagues to advance our work in other core practice areas, including fair housing, equitable community development, voting rights and education equity.

Duties Include:

• Provide brief consultations and extended legal services to nonprofits impacted or at risk of being impacted by federal government actions. Counsel may include evaluation of legal risks and liabilities and potential response options, including transactional legal services, administrative appeals, individual litigation, participation in strategic litigation, and legal representation in defense against enforcement actions.
• Assist with identifying and providing legal content for a resource hub and obtaining

supplemental expertise and resources as needed.

• Provide training to nonprofits covering corporate governance compliance, executive orders, policies, and litigation developments.
• Build strong relationships with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee member law firms and pro

bono counsel through support, training and co-counseling opportunities on

transactional legal assistance matters.

• Provide support to volunteer attorneys to deliver high quality legal assistance to eligible

nonprofits, small businesses, and social enterprises.

• Support client outreach strategies to expand service levels.

• Participate in significant partnerships, forums, speaking engagements and other

external activities to increase the organization’s reach and profile on issues of economic

justice and as a capacity-building technical assistance provider.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with client groups, communities served, and

other strategic Community Partners for client referrals.

• Collaborate with colleagues to identify intersections and develop integrated advocacy

approaches that advance racial equity and economic opportunity for the clients and

communities we serve.

About You

Qualifications

• Law degree and admission to the Illinois Bar or eligible for admission by motion.
• 5 years + experience of practice as an attorney, including 3 years + litigation experience.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• High degree of independence and ability to work autonomously.
• High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and significant initiative.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to details and accuracy.
• Excellent people skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with diverse

groups and individuals.

• Cross-cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and

difference.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts. Experience with government contracts.
• Familiarity with employment law, especially diversity, equity, and inclusion matters.
• Experience with advocacy around economic justice, including community investment and economic development.
• Experience working with community organizations, community development corporations, and/or economic development organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and enhance relationships across a wide variety of sectors.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, including written skills.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in this role description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

About Us

Founded in 1969, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee is Chicago’s preeminent nonprofit civil rights legal organization. Our mission and strategic direction explicitly focus on racial equity, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights. We provide legal representation through in-house staff and long-standing partnerships with over 30-member law firms. Located in downtown Chicago, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee has a 20-member staff and a $3+ million annual budget with a diverse mix of funding sources.

Our economic justice efforts date back to our founding and continue to be a critical component of our civil rights practice by providing in-house legal services and connecting community nonprofit organizations and small businesses in communities of color to the resources of large law firms. Access to expert legal resources, particularly in connection with nonprofit and business law matters, is essential to gaining power in our economic and political system.

Why Work with Us?

• Work with lawyers who are determined, focused, and compassionate.

• Work on defending and protecting critical nonprofits that serve those who are most vulnerable.

• Work in a way that allows you to build transaction and litigation skills.

Salary and Benefits: Salary range is $70,000 - $90,000 per year depending on experience. Generous benefits include PTO and paid leave; health, dental, and vision plans; employer-provided life and disability insurance; and a retirement savings plan. Please note that we currently offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with a requirement of one day per week in the office on a designated anchor day along with the option to work up to 4 days remotely.

To Apply: Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, ejackson@clccrul.org, with subject line specifying “Application for Economic Justice Attorney Position.” Please, no telephone inquiries. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights values a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Those from groups historically underrepresented in the legal community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Generous benefits include PTO and paid leave; health, dental, and vision plans; employer-provided life and disability insurance; 30 day sabbatical after six years of full-time employment; and a retirement savings plan. Please note that we currently offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with a requirement of one day per week in the office on a designated anchor day along with the option to work up to 4 days remotely.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, including written skills.