Paralegal - Consumer

For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 200 N. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position requires residency in the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois.

Position: Legal Aid Chicago seeks two full-time paralegals in the Consumer Practice Group.

Paralegals work alongside attorneys and directly with clients on legal issues. These positions will primarily support our work with the Early Resolution Program (ERP) with Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt, a county-wide initiative to help resolve eviction and debt issues and the Pro Se Bankruptcy Help Desk, funded by the Chicago Bar Foundation and situated to help pro se filers in the US Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of Illinois.

The ERP for consumer debt provides limited assistance to debtors. The program has both a pre-court and in-court component. The pre-court assistance focuses on screening and advising debtors of their rights. The in-court assistance focuses on advice, referrals and negotiation to resolve issues prior to trial. The paralegals support both aspects of this program, providing support to staff attorneys in screening and following up with debtors.

The Pro Se Bankruptcy Help Desk provides limited assistance to pro se debtors and creditors and those that are curious about filing bankruptcy. The paralegals will facilitate coordinating appointments with Help Desk volunteers who are bankruptcy experts and providing brief advice to Help Desk clients.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct telephone and virtual interviews to determine client eligibility for services
• Assist with providing brief services to clients including providing advice, obtaining documents, sending client correspondence, assisting with court filings and communicating on behalf of clients
• Communicate with pro se bankruptcy help desk volunteers and clients to coordinate appointments and provide brief bankruptcy-related advice
• Ensure smooth operations of the consumer early resolution program and pro se bankruptcy help desk including client registration and advice
• Provide advice and referrals to individuals not accepted as clients and make appropriate referrals to additional or alternative legal services and to necessary social services
• Engage and provide administrative support to staff in the consumer early resolution program and pro se bankruptcy help desk
• Attend training and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant issues
• Track data related to grant, pro bono work, and assist on related reporting
• Make appropriate referrals inside Legal Aid Chicago and to external partners
• Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case management system
• Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorneys and Director

Salary and Benefits:

This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.

The budgeted salary range for this position is $46,675-$51,428, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bilingual Paralegals are eligible for an additional stipend
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of      employment
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
• $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
• Monthly internet stipend