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Legal Aid Chicago · 2 days ago

Strategic Litigation Director

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$125K/yr - $140K/yr

10+ years exp

Legal Aid Chicago is a non-profit organization that provides free civil legal assistance to individuals living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. They are seeking a Strategic Litigation Director to enhance their capacity for positive impact through litigation and advocacy, overseeing complex cases and supporting the development of litigation strategies.

Law Practice

Responsibilities

Support the development of organization-wide standardized practices for litigation

Work with the practice groups to determine strategies and goals for affirmative advocacy and opportunities for litigation

Co-counsel complex federal or state litigation and appeals and supervise attorneys and staff who work on them

Identify and coordinate amicus brief opportunities for Legal Aid Chicago, particularly those that offer opportunities to use Legal Aid Chicago’s experience and expertise in poverty law matters to improve outcomes for Legal Aid Chicago’s clients and their communities

Assist the Director of Litigation and Training to determine the resources and training needed to equip each team to effectively litigate in state and federal court and within administrative processes

In coordination with the Director of Pro Bono & Community Partnerships, identify pro bono partnerships that can further develop the skills and affirmative litigation abilities of Legal Aid Chicago attorneys and community partnerships that can improve our understanding of issues and outcomes for clients

Assist the Chief Advancement Officer to identify foundations and other sources of funding for Legal Aid Chicago’s work and otherwise participate in the promotion of Legal Aid Chicago’s brand and fundraising efforts

Serve as an ambassador to elevate Legal Aid Chicago’s work and the interests of its clients with key audiences, both locally and nationally

Collaborate with other organizations and entities to identify potential joint representation opportunities that advance Legal Aid Chicago’s core work and its clients’ priorities

Other duties as assigned

Qualification

Litigation experienceHigh-impact litigationLegal writing skillsSupervising attorneysAnalytic skillsLegal research toolsProject managementCommunication skillsCross-cultural competencePassion for changeMentoring skillsRelationship buildingProblem-solving skills

Required

At least 10 years of litigation experience in state, federal, and appellate courts

Extensive experience in high-impact, high-stakes litigation, including first-chair trial experience, community-driven advocacy, and advanced skills in legal writing, editing, case strategy and development

Experience supervising, coaching, and mentoring attorneys

Demonstrated ability to develop and execute innovative and complex litigation strategies and see the 'big picture'

Strong skills in managing multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines, and working in a fast-paced environment

Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders

Demonstrated ability to work across multiple substantive areas of law; the ability to identify systemic legal issues and creative solutions to multi-faceted legal problems

Strong commitment to supporting Legal Aid Chicago's client communities and addressing the full array of their legal needs

Keen analytic, organization and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making

Proficiency with legal research tools and standard office software

A commitment to lead by example, passion for creating change, and dedication to the mission

Applicants must be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois or be licensed in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar

The applicant's personal background, experience, or professional background should reflect an ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers, and the community we serve