Manager of the Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP)

Overview

The Manager of the Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP) plays a key role in a nationally recognized program dedicated to helping lawyers build sustainable, innovative law practices that expand access to affordable legal services to the middle class. The Manager of the JEP serves as the primary point of contact for the JEP community, external partners, and other stakeholders; oversees the shared JEP office and resource portal; and supports the program's continued growth, improvement, and impact. This full-time, in-person position is based at the JEP Office (211 W Wacker, Chicago, IL) and reports to the CBF Chief Advocacy & Innovation Officer.

The Manager of the JEP must demonstrate a strong commitment to the CBF’s mission. This individual must be an excellent communicator with the ability to engage and work well with staff, JEP participants and alumni, partners, and various other stakeholders of the CBF, including the legal aid community, the larger legal community, other community partners and organizations, and the general public.

About The Chicago Bar Foundation

The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF), the charitable arm of the Chicago Bar Association, brings the legal community together to improve access to justice for people in need and make the legal system more fair, equitable, and effective for everyone. The CBF’s mission recognizes that taking a leadership role to ensure equal access to justice is our legal profession’s common cause, and that we can make a distinct impact in advancing that cause by the legal community coming together through the CBF.

The CBF’s work is made possible by the generous contributions of thousands of dedicated individuals, more than 200 law firms and corporations, and many other committed partners. Thanks to that strong support, the CBF awards several million dollars in grants each year and continues to play a lead role in a number of innovative access to justice initiatives.

One of those initiatives is the Justice Entrepreneurship Project (JEP), which aims to expand legal services to everyday people and small businesses by developing new market based models through which independent lawyers in solo or small practices can profitably provide affordable services to these clients. JEP participants focus their practices on serving people who do not have access to legal assistance because they earn too much to qualify for legal aid but cannot afford services at traditional law firm rates. The JEP provides training, mentoring, and other resources and support to help participants establish sustainable law practices that address these unmet legal needs in the community. More information about the JEP is available at www.chicagobarfoundation.org and www.jepchicago.com.

Candidate Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree;
• Two (2) years of relevant work experience, including in a small business, law firm, or non-profit setting;
• A demonstrated understanding of, and dedication to, the CBF’s mission;
• A desire to work in and contribute to a culture of innovation, adaptation, and continuous improvement;
• The ability to work well within a small and collegial working environment;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills so as able to effectively communicate with staff, volunteers, and various CBF stakeholders; and
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office functions (particularly Word, Excel, and Outlook). Experience with relevant technology tools preferred.

Critical Competencies:

• A record of working effectively towards common goals with stakeholders with diverse interests;
• Excellent organizational, project management, and time management skills;
• The ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities;
  • Strict attention to detail;
  • A willingness to seek guidance when necessary to properly carry out job duties;
  • The ability to take personal responsibility and accountability; and
  • The ability to anticipate and respond to the needs of colleagues, stakeholders, and JEP Network members.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Advocacy & Innovation Officer, the Manager of the JEP will be responsible for the following:

Community & Office Management (45%)

• Ensuring that the JEP office is a welcoming, collaborative, and collegial environment for JEP participants and alumni.
• Managing day-to-day operations and office needs, and resources.
• Managing the JEP alumni program to foster a strong and engaged JEP community by organizing events and networking opportunities, including the annual JEPY Awards.
• In collaboration and coordination with other CBF staff,
  • overseeing JEP marketing, communications, and social media,
  • collecting and tracking participation fees, and
  • creating and monitoring the JEP budget and expenditures.
• Overseeing the JEP referral program that connects people seeking affordable legal help with JEP attorneys.
• Regularly organizing and enhancing the JEP shared resource portal.
• Supervising interns and volunteers, as applicable.

JEP Program Delivery & Curriculum Management (30%)

• In collaboration with the Chief Advocacy & Innovation Officer, facilitating JEP recruitment, evaluation and selection of JEP Participants.
• In collaboration with the Director of Pro Bono & Training:
  • Facilitating JEP Bootcamp and ongoing trainings,
  • Coordinating pro bono placements for JEP participants,
  • Managing the JEP mentoring pairings and pro bono placements for JEP participants,
  • Adapting learning objectives, benchmarks and curriculum for JEP participants and alumni.
• Conducting participant and alumni check-ins.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement (15%)

• In coordination with the CBF’s Executive Director and the Chief Advocacy & Innovation Officer, serve as a liaison to the following stakeholder groups, including preparing for and attending all relevant meetings:
  • The JEP Advisory Board and relevant subcommittees,
  • A Steering Committee to be established to evaluate and revise the JEP Program.
  • A JEP Alumni Council to be established to provide a pathway for regular community feedback.

CBF Collaboration & Leadership (5%)

• Maintaining awareness of CBF projects, latest news in the legal community, and issues affecting the CBF and JEP missions.
• Coordinating with the Executive Director and the Chief Advocacy & Innovation Officer as well as other CBF staff on all projects and programs.

Additional Duties (5%)

• Attend major legal, philanthropic, and entrepreneurial/small business community events when possible.
• Assist with other projects and duties as assigned.