Job Description
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 interviewing applicants to fill a senior attorney position in our Chicago office.
Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to victims of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as 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 multiple 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 diversity—in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve. We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.
Position Summary: The senior attorney will assist survivors with their domestic relations cases including negotiations, settlement conferences, litigation (including drafting, depositions, discovery, pretrial conferences, as well as contested hearings and trials). Responsibilities include civil representation in orders of protection, family law and civil no contact orders for clients with domestic violence and/or sexual assault issues. The attorney will work with counseling and advocacy staff to provide a coordinated response to clients’ needs. The senior attorney will participate in systemic advocacy and policy reform. The senior attorney will oversee the development and implementation of Life Span’s legal internship program including training and supervising interns. Additionally, the senior attorney will assist with training new staff and ongoing education and case assistance with current staff.
- In-house and external training and CLE’s are encouraged at the start of employment and throughout tenure at Life Span.
- Mentorship and guidance are given to all staff attorneys, especially to entry-level attorneys.
Qualifications:
- Licensed to practice law in Illinois.
- Three to five years of experience working with domestic and/or sexual violence victims in family law cases.
- Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.
- Spanish or other language skill at the bilingual level is a plus for this position.
Location and Hours: The Staff Attorney position is a full-time, 40 hours per week position based in the Chicago Loop office. Life Span is steps away from the CTA El station pink line, orange, and green lines, and also accessible via the Metra railway, Union or Ogilvie stations.
Hybrid Remote Position: This is a hybrid remote position following a period of onboarding and orientation training.
Compensation: Life Span values staff as our most important resource and we offer a competitive salary dependent on experience. Starting salary: $70,000 - $75,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include generous PTO and holidays, Summer Fridays, life/disability insurance; 403b plan, health/dental insurance, pre-tax public transit, FSA and DCA benefit plans.
Loan Forgiveness Benefit: Life Span is a qualifying employer for the federal PSLF program.
To Apply: A cover letter with your resume is required to apply. Please send your cover letter and resume to the hiring manager via email to hiring@life-span.org.
No Telephone Calls Please.
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.
Our Vision
Life Span works with survivors to build a society free of domestic and sexual violence.
Our Work
At Life Span, our unique service delivery design ensures that our clients reach their goals for legal services 87% of the time. Compare this to general legal services at Chicago’s Domestic Violence Court, where only 17% of victims follow through with their cases until the end. When victims are served by attorneys and advocates that speak their language and understand their culture, they are more likely to survive the hostile court system. When victims seeking legal relief are supported by counselors who understand domestic violence and what it takes to survive, the victim’s ability to persevere and reach their goals increases dramatically – from 17% to 87%.
The U.S. Department of Justice has termed Life Span’s programs a “promising practice,” and we have provided training across the country on our service delivery model. Our comprehensive service design affords clients the best opportunity to achieve safety and freedom from violence.
We have built a national reputation for excellence and innovation in program development and service delivery. Our legal staff works together with counselors in the same agency to provide a cohesive response to the violence that permeates the lives of our clients and their children. Together with the voice of the survivor, we work to bring justice to families affected by domestic and sexual violence.