Job o' the Day: Education Law Staff Attorney – Legal Assistance Foundation of Metro. Chicago

The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF) is seeking a staff attorney in the area of Education Law, who will work in the Children and Families Practice Group at LAF. The attorney will handle cases for clients who have issues involving access to education, special education, expulsions, and suspensions. Many of these clients will be children and adolescents in foster care, whom LAF represents through a contact with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Responsibilities include representing clients at school special education meetings, administrative due process hearings pursuant to the Individuals with Education Disabilities Act, administrative expulsion hearings and state or federal court proceedings. The attorney will work with and train DCFS caseworkers, private agency caseworkers, foster parents, and court personnel to help them learn to identify and refer foster children who need LAF’s services.

The attorney should be able to drive and be willing to travel frequently throughout Cook County, often on short notice, to meet with clients, school personnel and others. Travel expenses will be reimbursed and other responsibilities adjusted to accommodate travel demands. The attorney will collaborate and advocate for LAF’s clients with other service providers in Illinois and with community-based organizations that serve children and families living in poverty. The attorney will share the work of screening, advising, representing and referring individuals seeking assistance with other attorneys, a paralegal, and a supervisory attorney.

The application deadline is August 28th.  View the full listing on PSLawNet (login required)