Legal Director

Chicago, IL, United States

Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH): For 40 years, LCBH has advocated on behalf of Chicago’s renters. LCBH is Chicago’s only legal aid agency that advocates solely for renters, focusing on serving low-income and working-class families living in unassisted, private market housing. LCBH has a high volume eviction defense practice, stands up against displacement pressures from banks and corporations, and forces repair of poor housing conditions. LCBH attorneys work in collaboration with supportive services staff to holistically address both the immediate housing crisis and its underlying causes.

Position Announcement: LCBH is seeking a Legal Director to provide organizational leadership and management of LCBH’s legal work to ensure that all Chicago’s low-income and working class renter families have a stable, safe, and affordable place to call home. A successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to supervise staff attorneys of varying levels of experience and effectively promote teamwork among the legal team and promote our multidisciplinary model of legal and social work. The Legal Director will also be capable of teaching and modeling a client-centered advocacy approach, litigation skills (including deposition and trial), and efficient case management. Because the Legal Director is also charged with overseeing the development of internal procedures and standards for client-based work, an ideal candidate will have management-level experience in a similar legal setting (e.g., legal aid, government, or other public interest-minded law practice). The Legal Director must also be capable of undertaking litigation tasks, which may include brief writing and editing, taking depositions, arguing motions, and participating in hearings and trials.

Duties

● Serve on the senior management team tasked with promoting the health and longevity of the organization for clients and staff.

● Provide leadership and litigation support to LCBH’s legal team, directing all major advocacy efforts, including appellate work and policy initiatives.

● Directly supervise and oversee supervision of staff attorneys, legal fellows/interns, paralegals, and intake staff.

● Co-counsel with staff attorneys or pro bono counsel on range of litigation, including individual and group representation in eviction and building court cases, and in affirmative litigation in state and federal court.

● Work with the Executive Director to direct staff attorneys in the implementation of a strategic vision for LCBH’s legal work and devise creative, high-impact advocacy strategies to prevent displacement and preserve affordable housing.

● Collaborate with legal program/project leads, intake staff, and the Supportive Services Director to ensure LCBH’s clients receive quality, client-centered services at each point of contact with organization

● Work with pro bono coordinator and staff attorneys to increase pro bono participation from law firms and corporations.

● Promote and facilitate relationships with current and potential partners, such as community-based organizations and government officials and ensure LCBH has representation in local, state, and national coalitions, working groups, committees, and task forces.

● Ensure that casework and advocacy efforts are well-coordinated with LCBH’s special projects, policy, communications, and operation staff.

● Serve as a partner to LCBH’s development team by contributing to program direction and development, and monitoring and reporting on grant compliance.

Qualifications

● Admission to the Illinois Bar with at least ten years of litigation experience. Class and group representation experience a plus.

● Strong people and program management skills, including at least two years in a managerial role responsible for hiring, motivating, supervising, and evaluating staff with varied levels of experience.

● Strong analytical, organizational, and communication (oral and written) skills.

● Expertise and experience in landlord-tenant, fair housing, or consumer law, or a substantive area of poverty law with significant litigation practice preferred.

● Experience advancing legal and policy issues (e.g. lobbying, working with community organizers, media) that impact people in poverty, or strong ties to Chicago’s low-income communities preferred.

● Insights into issues affecting our clients that will bring a new perspective to LCBH, which may be based on personal experience with eviction court, housing instability or poverty, personal experience as a member of a marginalized group, and/or deep knowledge of a relevant body of law.

● Commitment to the vision and mission of LCBH.

Compensation and benefits: Compensation is commensurate with experience. LCBH offers a benefits package that includes medical, dental/vision, 401k retirement plan, and other pre-tax benefits. We also provide generous paid time off including holiday, vacation, personal, and sick leave.

Application Process: To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected]. Please include “Legal Director” in the subject line. This position is open immediately and will remain open until full; however, applications received by September 13, 2019 will be given first consideration.

LCBH is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not receive funding from the Legal Services Corporation. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, older people, LGBTQ, and people from other underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

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