What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Attorney - Veterans Legal Clinic position at University of Illinois at Chicago?
The UIC School of Law, Chicago’s only public law school, is seeking a Staff Attorney for the Veterans Legal Clinic.
The Veterans Legal Clinic is committed to effective advocacy on behalf of veterans and their family members. It advocates for veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs and various military boards to enable veterans to access healthcare and disability benefits.
The Staff Attorney will supervise law students in their representation of clients in hearings and appellate proceedings to help clients obtain veterans benefits and military discharge upgrades. Staff attorney will perform intakes, manage cases, deadlines, and work with the Director to create a supportive learning environment.
The ideal candidate will be able to work in a fast-pace collaborative environment to serve clients and the community.
- Teach, mentor, supervise, evaluate, and structure the practice work of law students.
- Represent clients in cases and projects in the clinic’s subject matter areas.
- Develop relationships with client communities, organizations, and client populations.
- Conduct community outreach and develop marketing and outreach materials.
- Conduct and supervise community legal education.
- Teach in the clinic seminar, alone or with the Director of the Clinic or other clinic attorneys.
- Manage, in collaboration with the Clinic Director and other clinic attorneys, and supervise students in the administrative aspects of the management of a law office.
- Manage grant reporting in coordination with the Clinic Director and administrative staff.
- Handle clinic’s cases and projects during breaks in the academic calendar.
- Participate in special project as assigned.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
A Juris Doctor from an ABA approved Law School is required as well as an active Illinois License, or ability to be admitted by motion to the Illinois Bar; and experience in handling veterans’ benefits or discharge upgrade cases, and knowledge of the U.S. military justice system.
Preferred qualifications include: experience mentoring, supervising, or teaching law students; strong oral and written communication, organization skills, time management, and case management; a commitment to racial justice and client-centered lawyering; and experience utilizing trauma informed interviewing for at-risk or in-crisis clients.
The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability.
Offers of employment by the University of Illinois may be subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees. The University of Illinois may conduct background checks and other pre-employment assessments on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Background Checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law.
As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.
The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899
University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.