Supervising Attorney

Metropolitan Family Services•Chicago, IL

2d•$80,000 - $90,000

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 117,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment. The Legal Aid Society (LAS) is the legal services arm of MFS. Since 1886, LAS has been working to strengthen families and ensure equal access to justice by providing free legal services to under-resourced communities, including families experiencing poverty, victims of violence and crime, and the elderly. LAS provides assistance with a wide range of case types, including domestic violence, family law, elder abuse, immigration, human trafficking, expungement/sealing, and housing. With offices in the Chicago area and Decatur, LAS serves clients in Cook County, DuPage County, and Central Illinois. We are now hiring for a full-time Supervising Attorney to join its Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group! The Supervising Attorney will be responsible for supervising staff attorneys, volunteers, and support staff; assist in grant management and project implementation; and will maintain a caseload. The Supervising Attorney will focus on oversight of our Human Trafficking & Labor Exploitation project in Northern Illinois, serving victims of human trafficking and labor exploitation. The Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group provides legal representation to victims of crime and currently has projects that focus specifically on services to survivors of human trafficking, immigrant victims of crime, victims of wage theft, and legal services to recent immigrants arriving in the Chicago from the southern border. In addition, the Individual and Social Justice Practice Group engages in direct outreach, training, and technical assistance throughout Illinois. As part of a trauma informed practice we believe in reducing barriers to assist clients, which includes being willing to meet clients in safe locations away from the main office.

Requirements

Juris Doctor AND active member of the Illinois Bar OR admitted in another state and eligible for reciprocity in Illinois required.
5+ years of experience in the general practice of law or 4+ years as a licensed attorney working in legal aid
This experience should include 2+ years of directing the activities of a staff made up of both professional and non-professional employees and one year of experience in handling, without supervision, litigation in administrative tribunals, trial courts, and courts of review, or immigration cases before USCIS and EOIR.
Experience practicing immigration law or civil litigation.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with survivors of trafficking strongly preferred, but not required.
Bilingual in English/Spanish strongly preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Direct the day-to-day operations of program, including supervision of staff providing legal representation in civil litigation and immigration matters for survivors of human trafficking and labor exploitation
Assign and review the work of supervised staff and volunteers, adjusting the distribution of cases and assignments as necessary to provide equitable and manageable workloads as well as high quality client services.
Regularly provide guidance and feedback to staff on case management and subject matter.
Handle an appropriately limited caseload of direct legal services to clients, taking responsibility for complex or sensitive cases as warranted.
In consultation with Managing Attorney and Executive Director, make hiring decisions, evaluate staff, and recommend appropriate promotions/pay increases.
With Managing Attorney and Executive Director, participate in program planning and implementation of program goals and objectives.
Ensure program staff comply with grant and other reporting requirements.
Assist with grant reporting and other related activities.
Maintain awareness of relevant law or policy issues and developments, initiating and participating in appropriate public agency reform, court reform, legislative reform, affirmative litigation, policy analysis, and similar systemic activities in the interest LAS clients; provide direction and leadership around such activities to supervised staff and volunteers.
Develop and maintain constructive relationships with other programs within LAS and MFS, promoting the maximum development of the multi-disciplinary potential of the agency on behalf of clients.
Work and collaborate with community partners and other stakeholders.
At the direction of Executive Director, participate in public relations activities of LAS and MFS, including collaborating or communicating with other agency programs/groups, community partners, and government officials.
Other duties as assigned.