Intake Paralegal

The Illinois Prison Project (IPP) is a nonprofit organization in Chicago that seeks to reduce mass incarceration by providing legal services to individuals incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). IPP focuses on novel and creative approaches to prison reduction and engages in public education, advocacy, and direct legal representation. IPP’s mechanisms for release include clemency, parole, youthful parole, medical release, resentencing, administrative relief, and post-conviction filings. IPP is hiring a full-time Intake Paralegal. Candidates should be available to begin full-time work no later than July 27, 2026.

Candidates should be passionate about decarcerative work, attentive to detail, skilled at locating and managing voluminous legal documents, and possess excellent professional communication skills.

Under the direct supervision of the Paralegal Supervisor, the Intake Paralegal will work with the Intake Specialist to process all requests for legal assistance made to the Illinois Prison Project. IPP requires all team members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be required.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Intake Specialist with the management of screening lists and processes, including backlog cases
• Open and scan all non-client letters, some client letters, and enter them into the case management software
• Process intake emails and phone calls
• Promptly mail back non-client documents (originals and copies) upon approval from the Intake Specialist
• Promptly respond to non-client letters with approval from the direct supervisor and/or the Intake Specialist for matters regarding intake
  • Determine if the request requires a referral, and make an appropriate referral if so, and upon approval from the Intake Specialist or direct supervisor
  • Determine if the request requires a toolkit or other legal resource, and send the appropriate resource if so
  • Track all correspondence in case management software
• Assist the Intake Specialist in gathering screening information
  • Screening information should be entered in the case management software
  • Gathering screening information requires navigating county databases such as the Cook County Portal and Judici, requesting and retrieving court documents from county clerk offices, and may require retrieving other case-related documents, including medical records, mental health records, and IDOC records
  • Send FOIAs and conduct other investigative tasks
  • Send out questionnaires to potential clients
  • Schedule legal calls
• Upon case acceptance, ensure that a physical file is created and that received documents are returned upon the attorney's request
• Upon acceptance, mail and track the receipt of all intake documents (packet including retainer, waiver, etc.)

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or have had an equally effective and relevant alternative educational or professional experience
• At least two years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant
• A deep commitment to criminal legal change in Illinois and social, economic, gender, and racial justice
• Ability to independently manage voluminous case files
• Excellent personal and professional communication skills
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Located near Chicago and able to travel throughout Cook County and the State for document collection
• Proficiency using Google Suite, Microsoft, Excel, and prior experience with Filevine (or other legal case management software) and Telzio is a plus

Location: IPP maintains a hybrid work environment, including working remotely and out of IPP’s office at 53 West Jackson Blvd in Chicago, Illinois. For this role, in-person days are required, and regular travel throughout the state will be required. Hiring preference is given to local candidates or candidates who plan to relocate locally.

Reports to: Paralegal Supervisor

Illinois Prison Project is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Illinois Prison Project believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as an organization, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Full benefits include a 36-hour work week (half-day Fridays), 20 days of vacation leave, 2 additional weeks of office-wide closure for winter and summer breaks, sick/wellness leave, and 401 (k), along with health, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance. IPP also makes a flat $1,000 contribution to all employee 401k accounts.