STAFF ATTORNEY BILINGUAL ENGLISH-SPANISH - LIFE SPAN

About the role

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. The Bilingual English‑Spanish Staff Attorney will join the Family Law team to assist survivors with domestic relations (divorces) or parentage (unmarried couples) cases, gaining experience in negotiations, settlement conferences, litigation (including drafting, depositions, discovery, pretrial conferences, contested hearings and trials), and related proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma‑informed, client‑centered legal representation to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence in family law matters, including orders of protection, divorce, parentage, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and related proceedings.
• Conduct client intake interviews, assess client situations and legal needs, advise clients regarding their legal rights and options, and develop appropriate case strategies.
• Assist clients with creating a safety plan and provide referrals to other needed services.
• Prepare, review, and file pleadings, motions, petitions, affidavits, and other legal documents, and conduct legal research as needed.
• Represent clients in court hearings, trials, settlement conferences, mediation proceedings, and other legal matters.
• Manage an active caseload; maintain accurate and timely case records; protect client confidentiality; and ensure compliance with court dates, filing deadlines, ethical obligations, grant requirements, and organizational policies.
• Work effectively with clients from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and collaborate with advocates, paralegals, counselors, and community partners to provide comprehensive services and support.
• Participate in community outreach, legal education, training, and other program activities that advance Life Span’s mission.
• Assist with data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements related to grants, contracts, and program operations.
• Must be able to travel to and from courthouses and Life Span offices throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs as needed.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in Illinois.
• 0‑5 years of relevant legal experience.
• Experience working with domestic violence victims in family law cases.
• Public interest law experience including hearing or trial experience.
• English‑Spanish language fluency at a bilingual level is required for this position.

Benefits

• Generous vacation, sick, and miscellaneous leave.
• Nineteen paid holidays.
• Summer Fridays.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life and disability insurance.
• 403(b)‑retirement savings plan.
• Pre‑tax public transit benefits.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) plans.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Pay

Starting salary is $70,000 commensurate with experience. Bilingual staff may receive an additional $2,000 per year.

Schedule

This is a full‑time 40 hours/week position. Following onboarding and training, employees may be eligible to work remotely for up to 16 hours per week, subject to supervisory approval and operational needs. The role may be based in either the Chicago office or the Life Span Des Plaines office, with periodic travel to courthouses and other offices as required.