The Legal Council for Health Justice (LCHJ) seeks two attorneys to provide a wide range of civil legal aid services to low-income persons impacted by HIV in our AIDS Legal Council program.
LCHJ was founded in 1987 as the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago to respond to the urgent legal and human needs of persons impacted by HIV and AIDS. We expanded services in 2014 to address discrimination, disadvantage, and disparities in health, equity, and well-being across the lifespan of vulnerable populations. We changed our name in 2015. Today, we have three programs: the AIDS Legal Council (assisting individuals with HIV/AIDS); the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (serving families with children 0 to 22 with disabilities and chronic health conditions); and the Homeless Outreach Project (targeting persons with severe mental health issues who are homeless or at risk of homelessness).
The AIDS Legal Council program works closely with social service agencies, community groups, AIDS service organizations, and medical providers across the city. Our team of attorneys and legal advocates works on-site at medical settings to interview and counsel clients impacted by HIV – including Howard Brown Health, Mercy Hospital, Austin CBC Clinic, and the CORE Center (one of the country’s largest outpatient HIV clinics). Issues include eligibility for public benefits (Social Security, SSI, state-funded cash benefits), access to medical care and medical care payment (Medicaid, Medicare, marketplace insurance coverage, etc.), discrimination, employment rights, and confidentiality. Our legal work encompasses individual representation, policy work with legislative bodies and administrative agencies, and impact work including class action litigation on issues important to our clients.
All applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the mission of LCHJ. Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:
- Social Security, Medicaid and other public benefits programs;
- Disability discrimination and healthcare confidentiality;
- Excellent writing and communication skills are essential;
- General intake in poverty law;
- Models of harm reduction and trauma-informed care; and
- Working with people with HIV and/or AIDS and people with mental issues or substance abuse issues.
Experience and competence working with the LGBT community is a must.
Relevant experience includes not only professional advocacy on behalf of others, but personal experience with poverty, chronic illness, HIV, mental illness, public housing or other issues affecting our client population. Spanish proficiency is a plus.
Principal Responsibilities: The staff attorney will work with AIDS Legal Council on a variety of legal matters. Responsibilities include:
- Providing legal representation, legal counsel, and referrals to eligible clients in a wide range of legal areas, including: public benefits such as Social Security and SSI, employment; health coverage including private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and other programs; discrimination; guardianship; estate and permanency planning; and transgender legal issues.
- Coordinating on-site legal clinics and intake at several medical outreach sites
- Planning, implementing, and documenting outreach and training programs;
- Engaging, where appropriate, in impact litigation, administrative, and legislative advocacy; and
- Assisting in supervision and support of paralegals, law students, and volunteer attorneys.
Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be admitted to the Illinois Bar or be eligible for admission through reciprocity.
How to Apply: Applications will be accepted through February 10, 2017. To apply, email a resume, compelling cover letter, writing sample, and three professional references to:
Thomas Yates, Executive Director
job@legalcouncil.org
LCHJ is an Equal Opportunity Employer: People of color, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, and Veterans are welcomed and strongly encouraged to apply.
Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience and based on LCHJ’s salary scale.
More information about the agency is available at www.legalcouncil.org.