Paralegal

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 Paralegalto join itsIndividual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group! The paralegal will assist IRSJ attorneys in providing legal services in immigration cases.

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.

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $50,000 and $52,500 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Support attorneys in providing legal representation in immigration cases, with a focus on humanitarian relief for victims of crime, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. 
• Interview prospective clients to gather information needed to (a) determine eligibility and commence legal work; (b) identify urgent and unusual situations; (c)facilitate the provision of legal advice; (d) and organize and implement next steps to advance a case or connect client to additional services.
• Assist attorneys in client representation, litigation, and maintaining high volume caseload. Communicate with clients; draft pleadings, documents, and correspondence; manage court or administrative agency filing and scheduling; conduct factual investigations; gather and compile documentary and other evidence.
• Maintain documents, data, and other information required by various funders.
• Ensure all case files and case data are timely and accurately updated.
• Develop a basic knowledge of court and administrative agency practices in assigned area of work, and keeps other staff informed of developments. Help develop positive working relationships with court and agency personnel.
• Participate in community education, service planning, and public relations activities. May participate on various committees and task forces within the agency and with outside organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong writing, recordkeeping, organizational, and communications skills.
• Typing and computer operation skills sufficient to be able to draft documents.
• Ability to exercise appropriate independent judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university or higher, or ABA accredited paralegal certificate, or comparable experience demonstrating working knowledge of legal systems and concepts required.
• If not already certified, the paralegal must, upon hire, enroll for training and receive a 40-Hour Domestic Violence Certification within 12 weeks of employment required.
• Bilingual English/Spanish, strongly preferred.
• 1 year of immigration experience, preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactorily pass all screenings and background checks

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Travel required within Cook and DuPage Counties, primarily to MFS centers and courthouses

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package. Find out more by clicking here!

• Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.
• Dental and Vision Insurance Options
• 12 paid Holidays  
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401K Plan
• Training and Professional Development Plan with E- Learning
• Wellness Initiative Program
• Employee Assistance Network