Senior Attorney - Civil Rights

For 40 years, Equip for Equality has been advancing the human and civil rights of people with disabilities across Illinois. Among our many accomplishments, Equip for Equality has made Chicago public transportation more accessible, helped tens of thousands of people with disabilities move from institutions into the community, increased inclusive education and educational outcomes for students with disabilities, and enhanced safety and quality of care in a variety of settings. We have offices throughout Illinois.

Equip for Equality has three teams: the Civil Rights Team, the Special Education Clinic, and the Independent Monitoring Unit. Our dedicated staff of over 40 attorneys, social workers, and administrative staff work every day to advance our mission. As we work to improve society’s inclusion of individuals with disabilities, we also strive to be a welcoming workplace.

The Senior Attorney position is within the Civil Rights Team. The Civil Rights Team handles a wide range of legal issues affecting people with disabilities, including: removing barriers to public accommodations and government services; promoting community integration to support individuals to live in the most integrated community setting; combating employment discrimination; making transportation more accessible; protecting the right to be free from abuse and neglect; advancing individuals’ legal rights in institutions and community settings; and promoting self-determination and personal decision-making in the context of guardianship and other forms of substituted decision-making.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Attorney will perform duties within the Civil Rights Team, which may include

• The use of legal and regulatory tools to ensure true community integration, such as the integration mandate of the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L. C. through individual and systemic advocacy and litigation, including development of new litigation
• Systemic litigation to advance access to community-based services and supports for people with disabilities, including cases brought under the Medicaid Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other statutes
• Enforcing consent decree compliance in Equip for Equality’s three community integration class actions: Ligas v. Whitehorn, Williams v. Pritzker, and Colbert v. Pritzker, in partnership with outside counsel. This work may also include individual representation of class members
• Representing people to ensure that their legal rights in institutions and community settings are being respected
• Conducting intake and handling individual cases
• Occasional travel throughout the state, including overnight trips
• Public speaking about the rights of people with disabilities, including the right to live in the community and the right to be free from abuse and neglect

This position reports to a Supervising Attorney on the Civil Rights Team. The candidate may be physically located in any part of Illinois, as the work will primarily be remote.

This position requires in-person court appearances, including in federal court

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• A law degree from an accredited law school
• A license to practice law in Illinois, or admission to the Illinois state Bar within one year of employment
• Minimum of 7 years of civil legal experience
• Minimum of 3 years of litigation experience
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to civil rights and disability rights
• Demonstrated commitment to working with low-income client populations

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Federal court experience
• Class action litigation experience
• Personal and/or professional experience with people with disabilities
• Fluency in Spanish or another language used by our clients
• Understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers.

BACKGROUND CHECK

All conditional offers are subject to a background check, conducted in compliance with all applicable laws and paid for by EFE. A disclosed record will not automatically disqualify a candidate. If the employee works with Social Security beneficiaries, a separate background check conducted by the Social Security Administration will be required.