Staff Counsel or Public Policy Associate for the Criminal Legal System Program

Position: Staff Counsel or Public Policy Associate for the Criminal Legal System Program

Employment Type: Full time; Permanent

Reports to: Director of Criminal Legal System

Location: Chicago, IL

Impact for Equity, formerly known as BPI, has been at the front lines of the fight for social justice in the Chicago region for over fifty years. Known for its innovative and effective advocacy for racial and economic equity, today Impact for Equity is deeply engaged in advancing systemic change in the criminal legal system and the affordable housing realm. With collaboration as a core value, Impact for Equity partners with people directly impacted by racial and economic injustice and the community-based organizations that serve them. Impact for Equity works to develop nuanced policies and programs, advance effective strategies, catalyze strong coalitions, and progress toward its overarching vision of a state where every person has the right and opportunity to live their fullest life in a thriving community and free of systemic barriers. The organization’s tenacious lawyers and policy experts employ a combination of legal tools, policy research, organizing, advocacy, and convening to achieve transformational change. A collaborative and stimulating workplace, Impact for Equity is committed to offering opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to work that advances racial, economic, and social justice.

Position Overview

Impact for Equity seeks a dynamic and experienced staff counsel or public policy associate to help advance an ambitious agenda to decrease the footprint of the criminal legal system in Illinois and mitigate the harms experienced by those who encounter it. This role bridges the gap between data-driven policy design and community-informed advocacy, ensuring our work is both legally sound and empirically supported.

The Criminal Legal Systems team advocates for a more equitable Illinois by creating and protecting existing alternatives to the criminal legal system, promoting accountability and justice, and ensuring equitable outcomes for those impacted by the criminal legal system. Our work currently focuses on implementing systemic police reforms, reimagining the roles that police departments play in promoting public safety, reexamining traditional responses to crime, dismantling entry points into the criminal legal system, decarceration, and expanding services, programming, transparency, and accountability mechanisms to mitigate the harms people experience during incarceration. We are not currently engaged in any litigation in the Criminal Legal System area.

The Staff Counsel or Public Policy Associate will develop laws, policies, and programs; create and implement advocacy strategies; and engage in, or support, litigation to promote the goals of the Criminal Legal System program, as appropriate. In cooperation with the Program Director and other Impact for Equity colleagues, the person in this role will work independently and within a team on multiple projects of varying complexity.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct legal and policy research and analysis to develop and implement laws, policies, and programs, and, for lawyers, potentially engage in impact litigation, to promote program goals;
• Explore, develop, and implement advocacy strategies and projects to address inequities within the criminal legal system, informed by legal and policy research, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and the expertise of directly impacted people and communities;
• Participate in, support, and/or build coalitions, partnerships, and task forces, working to strategize and engage collaboratively;
• Prepare written materials, including policy reports, issue briefs, data visualizations, op-eds, fact sheets, legal and policy memoranda, and legal briefs;
• Work with communications staff and colleagues to help develop and implement communication strategies and messaging to elevate Impact for Equity’s advocacy efforts and serve as spokesperson as needed;
• Build and maintain a deep working knowledge and professional expertise on priority legal and policy issues, and the criminal legal system policy and regulatory landscape;
• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including impacted individuals, community members and leaders, community-based and ally organizations, policymakers, professional subject matter experts, and funders;
• Engage in cross-team collaboration, support and supervise fellows and interns on discrete projects;
• Develop short- and long-range strategies and monitor progress in achieving identified project goals;
• Cooperate with development staff to assist in securing external funding to support the work;
• Consistently integrate equity concepts into projects and interactions;
• Exemplify Impact for Equity’s core values and advance Impact for Equity’s mission and vision in all aspects of the work; and
• Travel in Chicagoland and to national conferences and meetings as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Five or more years of relevant experience in policy advocacy, public interest law, or impact litigation preferred;
• Exceptional legal and policy research skills, including proficiency in policy analysis frameworks such as power mapping or logic models;
• Demonstrated exceptional communications skills, including writing and public speaking, with an ability to present complex ideas clearly and effectively with a wide range of audiences;
• Experience engaging in creative problem solving, including an ability to craft novel and successful advocacy strategies, including policy advocacy, legislative advocacy, and/or litigation;
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including impacted individuals, community members and leaders, community-based and ally organizations, policymakers, professional subject matter experts, and funders; experience working with directly impacted people, community-based organizations, community organizers, and/or coalitions;
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a passion for social justice and Impact for Equity’s mission;
• Ability to develop and lead complex projects and establish a systematic course of action to ensure successful project completion;
• Ability to synthesize a lot of information, juggle multiple projects and priorities, adjust to changing circumstances, and adhere to deadlines;
• Ability to remain attentive to details, spot issues, utilize available resources, and seize opportunities to develop innovative solutions;
• Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgement;
• Willingness to travel locally and to national conferences on occasion, as needed;
• Knowledge of and/or experience working on an issue or issues related to the criminal legal system is preferred, but not required;
• Experience with Tableau, Power BI, or other data visualization platforms is a plus, but not required;
• Multilingual skills are a plus, but not required.

Education Requirement

• A Juris Doctor or an advanced degree in Public Policy or a related field is preferred, however substantial experience in public policy may stand in for an advanced degree.
• For lawyers who will serve as Staff Counsel, admission to the Illinois Bar is required.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and ranges from $75,000 – $90,000. We offer a competitive compensation package with an excellent benefits package with medical, dental and vision plans, 403(b) plan, paid time off, paid holidays, and monthly cell phone stipend.

This is a full-time, salaried, 40-hour per week role in a hybrid work schedule. Employees will work two days in-office and three days remotely, with Tuesdays designated as mandatory in-office days. The office environment is workstation-style, with moderate noise levels. While standard work hours are Monday through Friday, occasional weekend and evening work may be necessary to fulfill job responsibilities.

Application Process

To apply, please submit the following application materials in PDF to hiring@impactforequity.org:

• Resume
• Cover letter explaining why you are interested in this role and key relevant experience
• A writing sample
• A list of three professional references
• Final candidates will be asked to engage in a short writing exercise.

Impact for Equity will accept applications on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by April 30, 2026. No phone calls, please.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Impact for Equity is an at-will, equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Impact for Equity is committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, Impact for Equity prohibits discrimination or harassment against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. Impact for Equity also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law.

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of the responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with this position.

We offer a competitive compensation package with an excellent benefits package with medical, dental and vision plans, 403(b) plan, paid time off, paid holidays, and monthly cell phone stipend.