Paralegal (Bilingual-Arabic)

Life Span seeks candidates for an Arabic bilingual paralegal, this is a hybrid-remote position.

Office location: Chicago Loop or Des Plaines, Illinois

Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement, and systemic advocacy.

Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to victims of violence and their children. We are a financially secure organization with over 40 years of consistent and reliable funding. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy, representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, immigration services and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as police domestic violence, immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil no contact orders, the effects of trauma on clients and their children, teen dating violence, and the criminalization of survivors. Our agency has two sites, and services are available in nine languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic. All services are free of charge. Our agency provides national leadership in policy work and systemic advocacy, and our staff has trained advocates, lawyers, judges, counselors and other professionals in Illinois and across the country on critical issues and innovative practices.

Life Span values staff who reflect the communities we serve-in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff an leadership reflect the communities that we serve.

General Job Description: Assist victims of domestic and sexual violence who seek civil legal representation and/or criminal court advocacy and provide paralegal support and additional assistance to attorneys as needed.

Essential Job Duties:

• Conduct client intake interviews.
• Complete prescreens and intakes in Legal Server.
• Explain Life Span services and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act to clients and help them form a plan of action based on their options under the law.
• Explain domestic relations and immigration legal remedies available to clients.
• Provide clients with referrals to other needed services.
• Meet with clients, both in person and remotely as needed.
• Maintain case files.
• Maintain complete client statistics and submit as required by Life Span administration on a timely basis.
• Accompany clients and attorneys to court.
• Translate written documents and interpret at client interviews and assist clients in court.
• Attend and participate in training and outreach as assigned.
• Assist attorneys with document preparation.
• Assist with main line calls, provide Life Span information, screen and direct calls.

Qualifications: Fluent bi-lingual Arabic language skills required. Bachelor of Arts Degree &/or Paralegal Certificate preferred. Commitment to working in the not-for-profit/public interest sector; prior experience in working in a social service agency or with domestic violence victims are helpful.

Location and Hours:

The Paralegal position is a full-time, 40 hours per week position.

This position may be based in either the Chicago office or in the Des Plaines office per applicant preference. If a Des Plaines based office is preferred, regular travel to the Chicago office and Chicago courthouses will be required to attend court dates, in-person client appointments, and legal meetings.

Chicago Office Accessibility:

Life Span offices are steps away from the CTA El station pink line, orange, and green lines, and also accessible via the Metra railway, Union or Ogilvie stations.

Des Plaines Office Accessibility:

Life Span is located in downtown Des Plaines, steps away from the METRA station, and accessible via the Blue Line/Pace transit. Des Plaines is a Northwest Chicago suburb, near O’Hare, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Norridge, and Arlington Heights suburbs. Free building parking is available.

Hybrid Position: This is a hybrid-remote position after onboarding and completion of training.

Compensation: Life Span values staff as our most important resource and we offer a competitive salary and generous benefits.

Starting salary is $50,000 commensurate with experience. Bilingual staff may receive an additional $2,000 per year. Benefits include generous PTO and holidays, Summer Fridays, life/disability insurance; a 403b plan, health, dental and vision insurance, pre-tax public transit, an Employee Assistance Plan, FSA and DCA benefit plan options, and an Employee Assistance Plan.

Loan Forgiveness Benefit: Life Span is a qualifying employer for the federal PSLF program.

Fluent bi-lingual Arabic language skills required.