The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms · 1 month ago
STAFF COUNSEL, Criminal Legal System Program
Chicago, IL
Contract
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$75K/yr - $90K/yr
3+ years expImpact for Equity is a public interest law and policy center committed to social justice in the Chicago region. They are seeking a dynamic attorney to advance their Criminal Legal System program, focusing on decreasing the footprint of the criminal legal system and advocating for equitable outcomes for those impacted by it.
Non-profit Organization Management
Responsibilities
Conduct legal and policy research and analysis to develop and implement laws, policies, and programs, and, as appropriate, engage in impact litigation, to promote program goals
Explore, develop, and implement advocacy strategies and projects to address inequities within the criminal legal system, informed by legal and policy research, data analysis, and the expertise of directly impacted people and communities
Participate in, support and/or build coalitions, partnerships, and task forces, working to strategize, engage collaboratively
Prepare written materials including policy reports, issue briefs, op-eds, fact sheets, legal and policy memoranda, and legal briefs
Work with communications staff and colleagues to help develop and implement communication strategies and messaging to elevate Impact for Equity advocacy efforts and serve as spokesperson upon request
Build and maintain a deep working knowledge and professional expertise on priority legal and policy issues and the criminal legal system policy landscape
Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including impacted individuals, community members and leaders, community-based and ally organizations, policymakers, professional subject matter experts, and funders
Engage in cross-team collaboration and support and supervise fellows and interns on discrete projects:
Develop short- and long-range strategies and monitor progress in achieving identified project goals
Cooperate with development staff to assist in securing external funding to support the work
Consistently integrate equity concepts into projects and interactions
Exemplify Impact for Equity’s core values and advance Impact for Equity’s mission and vision in all aspects of the work
Travel in Chicagoland and to national conferences and meetings as needed
Qualification
Required
Three or more years of relevant experience in public interest law, impact litigation or policy advocacy required
Exceptional legal and policy research skills
Exceptional communications skills, including writing and public speaking, with an ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of audiences
Experience engaging in creative problem solving, including an ability to craft novel and successful advocacy strategies, including policy advocacy, legislative advocacy, and/or litigation
Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including impacted individuals, community members and leaders, community-based and ally organizations, policymakers, professional subject matter experts, and funders; experience working with directly impacted people, community-based organizations, community organizers, and/or coalitions
A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a passion for social justice and Impact for Equity's mission
Ability to develop complex projects and establish a systematic course of action to ensure successful project completion
Ability to synthesize a lot of information, juggle multiple projects and priorities, adjust to changing circumstances, and adhere to deadlines
Ability to remain attentive to details, spot issues, utilize available resources and seize opportunities to develop innovative solutions
Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgement
Ability to travel
Juris Doctor degree and admission to the Illinois Bar
Preferred
Knowledge of and/or experience working on an issue or issues related to the criminal legal system is a plus, but not required
Multilingual skills are a plus, but not required
Benefits
Comprehensive health insurance
403b retirement plan
Generous time off
Transit benefits
Cell phone reimbursement
Company
The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms
The Chicago Committee is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 by ten minority lawyers.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase