Director of Criminal Records Relief

Westside Justice Center•Chicago, IL

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Westside Justice Center is growing and expanding its legal services team! Unleash your advocacy skills and make a difference with the Westside Justice Center. Join our mission-driven team as the Director of Criminal Records Relief and play a critical role in advancing access to justice for immigrant individuals and families navigating the U.S. immigration system. Founded in 2015, the Westside Justice Center (WJC) is not just a workplace—it is a community-centered Legal Aid clinic committed to eradicating barriers to justice and uplifting authentic community leadership. As the Director of Criminal Records Relief, you'll be at the forefront of our efforts, leading our CRR Legal Services team to offer essential support to individuals and communities in need. You will provide oversight and direction for the Criminal Records Relief practice area by overseeing systems, processes, and people to ensure clients receive high standards of legal services in ways that are client centered and trauma informed.

Requirements

Licensed to practice law in Illinois
4 (four) years’ experience in the practice field
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, crisis oriented, self-directed environment
Strong project management skills
Proven ability to prioritize work
Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and orally, with staff, volunteers and partners
Ability to explain complex legal situations compassionately and effectively to people in crisis
Excellent interpersonal skills
Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation

Nice To Haves

Nonprofit experience preferred
Supervision experience preferred

Responsibilities

Oversee the work, engagement, and success of attorneys and paralegals
Support direct reports with clear expectations, direct feedback, and needed support
Ensure equitable professional development and career growth for all direct reports
System and Program design
Develop program manuals, guides, and other documents to support the work of the legal services program
Create workflows
Organize and attend departmental meetings
Participate in staff recruitment and hiring process
Provide leadership and training to Legal Services staff
Maintain WJC legal practice manual, including motions, pleadings, guides, and other materials for legal program staff
Maintain WJC pro se litigant assistance manual
Liaising with partner organizations and providing occasional trainings or outreach presentations
Oversee the collection and maintenance of electronic and manual records
Prepare periodic reports for internal and external purposes
Establish and maintain internal evaluation guidelines
Collaborate with members of the Senior team to evaluate WJC programming
Assist with legal representation/legal counsel
Coordinate client intakes
Provide legal consultation and conduct research to assist problem-solving around intakes and resolution of cases