Legal Advocate

Legal Council for Health Justice (Legal Council) seeks a Legal Advocate to work on behalf of individuals and families facing barriers due to chronic, disabling, and stigmatizing health and social conditions. Under supervision of a Staff Attorney, the Legal Advocate will conduct outreach, intake, advocacy, and case handling activities.

About Legal Council for Health Justice

Founded in 1987-1988, Legal Council is a non-profit law office that finds legal remedies for discrimination, disadvantage, and disparities in health equity and well-being across the lifespan of Illinoisans impacted by life-changing medical conditions. Legal Council’s attorneys and legal advocates use a Medical-Legal Partnership model to provide legal services. We partner with safety-net hospitals, medical clinics, and social services agencies working with low-income communities to provide legal services. Legal Council operates on a hybrid work policy with a minimum of two days on site.

Legal Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQ+, and veterans are welcomed and strongly encouraged to apply. Legal Council believes that having a diverse staff is an organizational strength and recognizes and values the identities that staff members bring to our organization. We are enriched by the diverse experiences, beliefs, and ways of thinking that employees of different backgrounds bring.

Core Competencies:

The Legal Advocate will:

• Learn and practice trauma-informed approaches to client services.
• Conduct outreach to clients, patients, providers, and staff at Legal Council partner sites about our services.
• Interview potential clients and evaluate issues for further assistance and advice.
• Assist clients to complete necessary paperwork, investigate facts, and develop evidence to assist with applications for benefits and other legal claims.
• Under the supervision of an attorney, advocate for clients to federal and state administrative agencies, school districts, and other institutions as appropriate.
• Assist with program development duties, such as entering data in our case management and other digital systems and maintaining case files with funder-required content.
• Participate in regular internal meetings on client services and collaborate with staff to advance agency-wide health justice goals.

Characteristics and skills needed for the position:

• Must demonstrate a commitment to the mission of Legal Council.
• Must work effectively and compassionately with Legal Council staff and clients.
• Must work well independently and be willing to engage in some travel to sites in the Chicagoland area.
• Must have strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and writing skills.
• Preference given to applicants with at least three years of experience in a nonprofit, hospital, healthcare, school, or similar organizational setting, or a master’s degree in social work or a related field.

Relevant experience includes not only professional advocacy on behalf of others, but personal experience with poverty, chronic illness, HIV, mental illness, racism and its consequences, public housing, special education, or other issues affecting our client population.

Note: We know that very few people truly meet every single qualification for open positions. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse work experiences and backgrounds. If you feel like you have valuable skills and experience to be successful in this position, we encourage you to apply and mention your strengths and plans for professional growth in a role like this.

In addition to the salary range listed, Legal Council offers opportunities for advancement and career development, a comprehensive benefits package that includes major medical, dental and vision; Generous Holiday and Vacation Paid time off; Sick Paid Time Off; Traditional 401k/Roth 401k with 3% employer non-elective match.

Ability to communicate in Spanish highly desirable