Staff Attorney – Project S.A.F.E.

Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement, and systemic advocacy.  Life Span is seeking to fill a staff attorney position on Project S.A.F.E (Securing a Fear-Free Environment), a Life Span collaboration with the City Colleges of Chicago. Project S.A.F.E is a comprehensive, coordinated community approach to enhancing victim safety through training and education, direct services and support, and community collaboration for survivor recovery.

Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to victims of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as police domestic violence, immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil no contact orders, the effects of trauma on clients and their children, teen dating violence, and the criminalization of survivors. Our agency has two sites, and services are available in nine languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic. All services are free of charge. Our agency provides national leadership in policy work and systemic advocacy, and our staff has trained advocates, lawyers, judges, counselors and other professionals in Illinois and across the country on critical issues and innovative practices.

Life Span values diversity—in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences.  It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve.  We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.

Job Duties: Job responsibilities include civil representation in orders of protection, family law and civil no contact orders for clients with domestic violence and/or sexual assault issues. It also includes direct service support to a student population including explanation of legal rights, safety planning and crisis intervention. The attorney will provide clients with information and advice on Title IX and the Clery Act as well as give public presentations on these and other issues.  The attorney will work with Project S.A.F.E to build a system wide response to domestic and sexual violence within the City College system.  They will work with project and collaborative partner staff, as well as other Life Span legal, counseling and advocacy staff to provide a coordinated response to clients’ needs. The staff attorney will participate in outreach, education, and systemic advocacy.

Qualifications:
Licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Experience working with domestic and/or sexual violence victims in family law cases.

Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.

Spanish language skill at the bilingual level is a plus for this position.

Location and Hours:  The Project S.A.F.E. Staff Attorney position is a full-time, 40 hours per week position based in the Chicago Loop office.  Life Span is just steps away from the CTA El station pink line, orange, and green lines, and also accessible via the Metra railway, Union or Ogilvie stations.

Hybrid Remote Position:  This is a hybrid remote position after onboarding and training.

Compensation:  Life Span values staff as our most important resource and we offer a competitive salary dependent on experience.  Benefits include generous PTO and holidays, Summer Fridays, life/disability insurance;403b plan, health/dental insurance, pre-tax public transit, FSA and DCA benefit plans.

Loan Forgiveness Benefit:  Life Span is a qualifying employer for the federal PSLF program.

To Apply:  Tell us why you are interested in working as Project S.A.F.E. Staff Attorney at Life Span, relate your experience and skills to this position.  Send resume and cover letter to the hiring manager via email to hiring@life-span.org.

No Telephone Calls Please.