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. 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, youth parole, medical release, resentencing, administrative relief and post-conviction filings. IPP is hiring a full-time Paralegal. Candidates should be certified or have equivalent experience and be available to begin full-time work no later than September 2, 2025.

Candidates should be passionate about this work, attentive to detail, skilled at locating and managing voluminous legal documents, and possess excellent professional communication skills. IPP requires all team members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be required.

Responsibilities include:

• Manage a high volume client portfolio
• Obtain, organize, review, and synthesize digital and physical case files for incarcerated clients and non-clients, including medical records, mental health records, court documents, and IDOC records
• Send FOIAs and conduct other investigative tasks
• Manage client correspondence, including incoming and outgoing mail
• Schedule legal calls and provide other legal assistance to attorneys
• Manage data collection, tracking, and recording for client records; keep accurate and thorough client records on IPP’s case management software, Filevine
• Collect letters of support from loved ones/supporters and related to reentry
• Potentially assist with reentry case management for incarcerated clients and their families
• Assist attorneys with communicating with client’s family members and supporters
• Open, scan, organize, distribute, and file (digitally and physically) the Legal Team mail
• Other administrative tasks as assigned

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
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends as required
• Located near Chicago and able travel throughout Cook County for document collection and throughout the state for prison visits, parole board hearings, and other events
• Proficiency using Google Suite, Excel, Telzio, and Zoom; prior experience with Filevine (or other legal case management software) 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. Consistent with IPP’s hiring practices, this position can be remote but hiring preference is given to local candidates or candidates who plan to relocate locally. Certain tasks or events, however, may require that the Staff Attorney be physically present in Chicago

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.

How to Apply:

• Please send via email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three references, in a single PDF file, to hiring@illinoisprisonproject.org with “Paralegal” in the subject line.
• Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Due to the large volume of applicants, we will not be able to reply to individual emails about an applicant’s status. No phone calls, please.