Employment Opportunities
We would love for you to join our team! Please see below for available employment opportunities.
Legal Council for Health Justice is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Legal Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We welcome and strongly encourage people of color, women, persons with disabilities, older workers, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, and veterans to apply.
It is Legal Council’s policy to provide employment, training, compensation, promotion and other conditions or opportunities of employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, veteran status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Originally founded in 1987 as AIDS Legal Council of Chicago to respond to the urgent legal and human needs of persons impacted by HIV and AIDS, the agency broadened its focus in 2014 to address discrimination and disparities in health, wealth and well‐being across the lifespan of underserved populations. Now known as Legal Council for Health Justice (Legal Council), members of our legal team have been at the forefront of shaping, expanding and defending against discrimination in every major healthcare program in Illinois, in the Chicago Public Schools, and in access to jobs, providing thousands of Chicago’s adults and children with access to health coverage, economic security and upward mobility.
Legal Council recently completed a strategic discussion to outline the framework that will guide its strategic directions in the next three years. Out of these discussions, Legal Council will seek to secure dignity, opportunity and well‐being for people facing barriers due to illness or disability.
The five pillars of the plan are:
1. Through expanded reach and impact, we overcome race and income‐based inequities that clients and communities we serve face in achieving health and wellness.
2. We dismantle systemic barriers to health equity.
3. We attract partners and supporters by publicizing our accomplishments and expertise to maximize our impact.
4. We nurture resilient, sustainable organizational culture and structure.
5. We build flexible financial resources to achieve mission.
Legal Council has an annual budget of approximately $3.7 million with a staff of 30 comprised of 16 attorneys, seven legal advocates (paralegals), and development and administrative staff.
Legal Council is seeking a dedicated and dynamic leader at a critical point in its efforts to use the power of law to ensure access to critical services and opportunities for clients facing barriers due to illness, disability, or status. The Executive Director will serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson, share a thorough knowledge of our work to all stakeholders, lead efforts to fund our work, and manage day‐to‐day activities and operations in partnership with the Board of Directors and Legal Council staff.
The candidate should have knowledge of effective practices in the leadership and management of civil legal services and/or healthcare and disability advocacy; specific experience in an organization focused on legal assistance or in providing direct services to members of the community that Legal Council serves is highly desired. Dedication to the values of Legal Council, being an advocate with a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion, and health, economic and racial justice is required. Direct understanding of the unique challenges that legal aid staff face as client advocates and case handlers are key to success. A proven ability to hire, train, invest in, coach, and lead a highly professional, effective, closely coordinated, self‐accountable staff is a must. The candidate will have at least five years experience in managing people; it is preferred that the candidate has five years of experience in the nonprofit setting, ideally in a leadership role.
The minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required, though a master’s or advanced degree is preferred. Current or prior experience in the field or experiences that would result in a key understanding of the cause is highly desirable. Evidence of continuing education, certification and executive level training is desirable.
The salary range for this position is between $140,000 and $160,000 and will be commensurate with experience. Legal Council offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to 13 paid holidays, vacation days, group health insurance, dental, vision, short‐ and long‐term disability insurance, as well as a retirement plan match.
Applications and nominations are being received by Kittleman & Associates, LLC. Please submit a current resume and letter of interest through their website (by clicking the "Apply" button at the bottom).
Legal Council for Health Justice (Legal Council) seeks a legal advocate to work with our AIDS Legal team providing legal services to people and communities impacted by HIV in Chicago. The legal advocate will work with our established Medical Legal Partnerships (MLP), client communities, and community partners to conduct outreach, education, intake, and handle legal matters, under the supervision of a staff attorney.
The Legal Advocate will work a portion of the week in the Legal Council office in Chicago’s Loop and at our partner site. Pursuant to Legal Council’s hybrid work policies, the Legal Advocate may also be able to work remotely for up to 3 days a week, depending on the schedule.
Interested applicants should read the full job description, including job responsibilities and requirements, here.
Applicants will please email (no phone calls, please) a resume, compelling cover letter, and three professional references with the subject line: "Legal Advocate, AIDS Legal Project" to: job@legalcouncil.org, Attn: Kenya Burnett, Legal Director, AIDS Legal Council Program.
Legal Council invites you to share in your cover letter how your lived experience may make you a better advocate for the families and communities we serve.
Legal Council for Health Justice sponsors law students and current judicial clerks for fellowships funded by the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, Equal Justice Works, the Borchard Fellowship in Law & Aging, and other fellowship programs (including those funded directly by law schools). Fellows work closely with our attorneys and legal advocates. Fellows will carry their own caseloads and gain valuable experience in providing legal assistance. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work on policy and systemic advocacy work with our legal team.
Interested applicants are encouraged to consult with us if they have an idea for a fellowship proposal. Please reach out to Caroline Chapman, Senior Director of Litigation and Advocacy at cchapman@legalcouncil.org.
Legal Council for Health Justice seeks 1L and 2L law student interns to join us this summer. Students are expected to work full-time for 8 to 10 weeks. We do provide hybrid work options, but at least two weekdays per week of on-site work is required.
We’re looking for dynamic applicants dedicated to racial justice, trauma-informed advocacy, and health policy to join our team.
Legal Council is home to three projects:
- The AIDS Legal Council program provides legal assistance in cases where an individual’s HIV
status—real or perceived—is the cause of their legal difficulties. - The SSI Homeless Outreach Project specializes in providing trauma-informed, legal advocacy to persons who are experiencing homelessness and have disabling medical conditions, many of whom are survivors of significant adverse childhood experiences and other traumas.
- The Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children partners with pediatric medical providers and uses legal advocacy to improve access to a full-range of social, educational, developmental, medical, and income-support services, removing systemic barriers for patients with significant health challenges.
Our work centers the voices of our clients through direct legal services, community engagement and education, and policy advocacy targeted at systemic injustice. You can learn more about our work here.
To Apply:
All applicants are required to submit a resume and a cover letter expressing their interest in contributing to our work. Please specify in your cover letter which program(s) you’re applying for (if you have a preference). Applications are due by January 3, 2023 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Law student summer interns may be eligible for funding through PILI and therefore we strongly encourage all interested students to apply through that program by submitting their cover letter and resume through the PILI website.
Interested applicants who have secured funding to support their summer or who plan to seek course credit may apply to Legal Council either through PILI or by emailing a cover letter and resume to: PILIapplication@legalcouncil.org.
Legal Council is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and accommodation. We strongly encourage people of color, women, persons with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQ+, and veterans to apply. We also invite you to share how your lived experience may make you a better advocate for the families and communities we serve.
Legal Council for Health Justice generally hosts 4-6 service corps members each year. Past partnerships have included AmeriCorps VISTA, Avodah, and National Health Corps. These opportunities are a great way for individuals to gain exposure to life-changing experiences that will prepare them for potential careers in law, medicine, social work, and nonprofit service.
We encourage interested applicants to consult with us if they want to discuss the work of service corps staffers at Legal Council. For inquiries, please contact Ruth Edwards at redwards@legalcouncil.org.
Pro bono legal experts and other volunteers are essential to advancing Legal Council’s mission of using the power of law to secure dignity, opportunity, and well-being for people facing barriers due to illness or disability.
We accept non-law student volunteers including high school, undergraduate, paralegal, social worker, and other professional interns. Pro bono and volunteer opportunities will be based on the needs of Legal Council, your skills, and availability.
To apply to be a volunteer, email volunteer@legalcouncil.org.
To share interest in pro bono legal opportunities, email Ruth Edwards at redwards@legalcouncil.org.
