Staff Attorney – Special Education Clinic (1449409)

STAFF ATTORNEY – SPECIAL EDUCATION CLINIC (#1449409)

The Staff Attorney position is within the Special Education Clinic. The Special Education Clinic provides services to students with all disabilities and their families in securing vital special educational placements, supports, and services. This Staff Attorney position involves expanding upon and initiating partnerships primarily in Cook County, but also statewide, to provide legal advice and representation on special education issues to court-involved students with disabilities and students who have experienced personal or community violence.

JOB SUMMARY
The attorney will participate in all aspects of the Clinic’s work, including:

• providing brief written and telephone advice
• oral and written advocacy
• training/outreach to court personnel and community agencies on special education law
• direct representation at IEP meetings, mediations, and expulsion hearings
• direct representation in due process hearings or federal court
• Systemic litigation and advocacy

This position reports to the Vice President of the Special Education Clinic. Training will be provided on special education law, client interviewing, and our internal case management system. Opportunities will be provided to work with pro bono attorneys, law student interns, and other professional development opportunities.

Our goal is to empower parents and families to be advocates while ensuring the rights of students with disabilities.

REQUIREMENTS AND PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
A law degree and license (new graduates may apply even though they are not yet licensed; applicants barred in other states may apply if their UBE score qualifies them to be barred in IL or they are willing to take the bar exam)

• Ability to travel
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to work scheduled evenings and weekends when requested by community partners
• Willingness to hold office hours at community partner offices throughout Cook County
• Occasional travel statewide (requiring overnight stays) and frequent travel throughout Cook County
• Commitment to civil rights
• Personal or professional experience with people with disabilities, low-income communities, or court-involved students preferred
• Oral and written Spanish language fluency is preferred.

This position is located in Chicago.
Equip for Equality encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position.

APPLICATION DEADLINE, HOW TO APPLY, COMPENSATION, AND BENEFITS
Please submit your resume and cover letter as soon as possible, as there is an immediate opening. Include salary expectations in the cover letter. Salary is commensurate with experience, and EFE offers excellent benefits.

Click the link to apply.

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/1449409

Do you need a reasonable accommodation for our application process?
Equip for Equality is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at lajune@equipforequality.org, and let her know the nature of your request and your contact information. Disability related information that is disclosed via the application process will be kept confidential.