Employment Opportunities

We Currently Have Employment Opportunities

EFE requires full COVID-19 vaccination compliance including booster.

STAFF ATTORNEY – CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION/EMPLOYMENT

The Civil Rights Team provides legal services to fight discrimination and remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in community life and pursuing their goals. The Anti-Discrimination/Employment practice group handles a wide range of legal issues impacting people with disabilities, including discrimination in employment; post-secondary education; healthcare; public accommodations and government services and programs; and transportation.

JOB SUMMARY

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting client interviews about all legal issues within the Anti-Discrimination/Employment Team, with a heavy emphasis on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Providing written and telephone advice to people with disabilities and family members
• Performing oral and written advocacy and conducting negotiations on behalf of clients
• Directly representing clients with disabilities in administrative or judicial forums, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Illinois Department of Human Rights, Chicago Commission on Human Relations, Cook County Commission on Human Relations, and in state or federal court
• Providing training on the legal rights of people with disabilities, with a focus on the ADA

This position reports to the Managing Attorney of Anti-Discrimination/Employment Team.

REQUIREMENTS AND PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• A law degree and license
• Minimum of 1 year civil legal experience
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Experience with and/or commitment to working with low income and diverse client populations
• Demonstrated commitment to civil rights
• Personal and/or professional experience with people with disabilities
• Spanish or other language fluency is a plus
• Working understanding of the ADA and other disability rights laws is a plus
• Occasional travel required throughout the State (adjusted as necessary due to COVID-19 restrictions)
• This position can be located in any of EFE’s offices across the State
• EFE requires full COVID-19 vaccination compliance including booster.

Equip for Equality encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position.

Application Deadline, How to Apply

Applications will be accepted until September 16, 2022. Please include salary expectations in cover letter. Salary is commensurate with experience and EFE offers excellent benefits.

Please apply using the link below:

Staff Attorney – Civil Rights – Anti-Discrimination/Employment

Resumes without cover letters will not be considered

Because Equip for Equality is a community-serving organization and safety is of the utmost importance, Equip for Equality requires a background check for employees and others who volunteer or perform services for us depending on the role. The background check is run for employees once a conditional offer of employment has been extended. Background checks are conducted in accordance with all applicable laws, EFE’s policy, and paid for by EFE.  A disclosed record may not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment.

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 hiring@equipforequality.org and provide the nature of your request and your contact information. Disability related information that is disclosed via the application process will be kept confidential.

STAFF ATTORNEY – Special Education Rights Clinic – Education Justice Project                             

The Staff Attorney position is within the Special Education Clinic. The Special Education Clinic provides services to students of all disabilities and their families in securing vital special educational placements, supports and services. This Staff Attorney position involves expanding upon and initiating partnerships in St. Clair and Madison Counties to provide legal advice and representation to court-involved students with disabilities (or those at risk of court involvement) on special education issues.

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
• conducting outreach and initiating partnerships with community agencies and juvenile court stakeholders
• conducting training to court personnel and community agencies on special education law
• direct representation at IEP meetings, mediations, and expulsion hearings for court-involved students with disabilities or those at risk of court involvement
• 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 and law student interns as well as 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)
• A driver’s license
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Personal or professional experience with youth or young adults, preferably those who are low income, have disabilities, or are court involved
• Travel required throughout St. Clair and Madison counties (and potentially other downstate counties as needed)
• Commitment to civil rights and passion for working with court involved youth with disabilities to provide youth with the opportunity to change their lives for the better
• This position is located in St. Clair or Madison County

Equip for Equality encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position.

Application Deadline, How to Apply

Please submit resume and cover letter as soon as possible as there is an immediate opening. Include salary expectations in cover letter. Salary is commensurate with experience and EFE offers excellent benefits.

Please apply using the link below:

Staff Attorney – Special Education Clinic

Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.

Because Equip for Equality is a community-serving organization and safety is of the utmost importance, Equip for Equality requires a background check for employees and others who volunteer or perform services for us depending on the role. The background check is run for employees once a conditional offer of employment has been extended. Background checks are conducted in accordance with all applicable laws, EFE’s policy, and paid for by EFE.  A disclosed record may not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment.

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 LaJune Davis-Wiley at lajune@equipforequality.org or (312) 895-7333 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.

Last updated: September 22, 2022