Staff Attorney

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). We focus on novel and creative approaches to prison reduction including mass commutation campaigns, sentence restructuring, public education, and advocacy.

IPP is hiring a Staff Attorney, who will represent people incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in commutation, medical release, and other post-conviction matters. The ideal candidate is passionate about criminal legal reform and the clients we work with, a creative thinker, and an excellent writer. Illinois licensure is required. IPP requires all team members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be required.

Candidates should be certified or have equivalent experience and be available to begin full-time work no later than January 11, 2026.

Responsibilities include:

• Advocate for incarcerated clients in criminal legal and quasi-legal matters, including in proceedings before judges, the Prisoner Review Board (PRB), the Department of Corrections, and Governor.
• Collaborate with partner organizations and allies to build support for advocacy efforts, including commutation campaigns
• Meet regularly with policy makers, including members of the Prisoner Review Board, prosecutors, and agency staff
• Communicate regularly with incarcerated clients and their family members by phone, mail, and in-person
• Organize and track voluminous case materials, and maintain up-to-date client information in IPP’s case management system

Desired Qualifications:

• Have a Juris Doctorate degree from ABA-accredited law school
• Be licensed to practice law in Illinois by date of employment
• Have one to five years of practice experience, with experience preferably being in criminal law
• Have a deep commitment to criminal legal reform in Illinois and social, economic, and racial justice
• Be comfortable working with a wide variety of incarcerated clients, including clients with mental illness
• Be self-driven, creative, highly energetic, and innovative
• Have the ability to work collaboratively with staff, interns, and volunteers
• Have the ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and produce quality results
• Have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and orally
• Be proficient using Google and Microsoft suite; prior experience with case management software a plus
• Have strong proofreading and detail-oriented research and writing skills
• Have the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Have the flexibility to work some evenings and weekends as required, including overnight trips
• Have the ability to commute to IPP’s office in Chicago and travel throughout the state for prison visits, parole board hearings, and other events.

Work Authorization: All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Location: IPP maintains a hybrid work environment, including working remotely and out of IPP’s office at 53 West Jackson Blvd in Chicago, Illinois. The candidate for this position must live in or plan to relocate to the Chicagoland area by the time of hire.

Reports To: Supervising Staff Attorney

Compensation & Benefits: This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $90,053 - $117,072, and planned quarterly bonuses equivalent to $100,059 - $130,080, in accordance with IPP’s payscale which is based on experience. 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, professional development stipend, 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 employees' 401(k) accounts.

Please note: This position is part of a newly recognized bargaining unit represented by OIEPU, Local 39. IPP and OIEPU are currently negotiating for a collective-bargaining agreement that will govern the terms and conditions of employment, including benefits and salary, at IPP. At this time, employment is subject to IPP’s current terms and conditions of employment and current benefits and salary. Please note, however, that each of these items are subject to the ongoing negotiations between IPP and OEIPU, and thus could change in the final collective-bargaining agreement.

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 1) a resume, 2) a cover letter, 3) a writing sample, and 4) the names of three professional references, in a single PDF file, to hiring@illinoisprisonproject.org with “Staff Attorney” in the subject line.
• Applications received after October 25, 2026 will not be reviewed.
• Due to the large volume of applicants, we cannot guarantee that we’ll be able to reply to individual emails about an applicant’s status. No phone calls, please.

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, professional development stipend, 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 employees' 401(k) accounts.

Please note: This position is part of a newly recognized bargaining unit represented by OIEPU, Local 39. IPP and OIEPU are currently negotiating for a collective-bargaining agreement that will govern the terms and conditions of employment, including benefits and salary, at IPP. At this time, employment is subject to IPP’s current terms and conditions of employment and current benefits and salary. Please note, however, that each of these items are subject to the ongoing negotiations between IPP and OEIPU, and thus could change in the final collective-bargaining agreement.