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Telephone Counseling Attorney

April 18, 2024

Every day, people across Illinois are denied the basic rights to which they are entitled under the law simply because they can’t afford a lawyer. It’s our mission to change that.

PSLS focuses services on legal problems that impact our clients' ability to meet their basic human needs, including adequate housing, public benefits, education, physical safety, access to healthcare, and similar needs. Our Telephone Counseling Service is staffed by 20+ attorneys and Intake Specialists who qualify applicants for service and provide legal advice by phone. The Telephone Counseling Service is the entry point for the majority of over 20,000 applications for legal help and over 15,000 clients annually.

The Telephone Counseling Attorney will interview clients, assess legal issues, and provide advice to clients by phone only. The attorneys also refer clients for additional service within PSLS where resources permit and outside of PSLS as appropriate. Telephone Counseling Service staff are primarily working remotely, full-time, or part-time. Candidates for this position must have the ability to be present at office locations for periodic training and meetings.

Responsibilities
Among other duties as assigned, the Telephone Counseling Attorney will:

  • Interview and advise clients calling from throughout our service area who are in need of assistance with diverse legal issues
  • Evaluate clients’ legal issues, conduct research while the caller is on the telephone, and provide legal advice relevant to the clients’ needs
  • Exhibit a high level of personal energy, organization, and commitment to the position and the PSLS mission

Salary and Benefits
The Telephone Counseling Attorney position is a full-time position at 37.5 hours per week. PSLS offers a salary that is competitive with similar organizations. Our salary range for this position is $70,000 to $90,231 annually. The starting salary for the successful candidate will be determined based on prior relevant experience. PSLS is committed to providing generous benefits to its full-time employees that include:

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • 403b Retirement Plan including employer contributions
  • PTO that starts at 3 weeks/year and increases with additional years worked
  • Paid sick leave
  • 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
  • Training and education program
  • 12 Paid holidays

Qualifications

  • Candidates who are Spanish-English bilingual are highly preferred
  • Candidates must live within 50 miles of one of the PSLS offices-Illinois residence preferred
  • Currently admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois or admitted in another state and eligible for reciprocity in Illinois
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Reliable home internet access
  • Excellent oral/written communication, research skills, and computer competency
  • Ability to work effectively as a team member

Application Details – Resumes accepted until position is filled
Please indicate “Telephone Counseling Attorney” in the subject line and email a letter explaining your interest and experience, resume, three references, and a short writing sample (no more than 10 pages) to careers@pslegal.org.

Prairie State Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, expression or presentation, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.

The Organization
Prairie State Legal Services is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization that has served northern and central Illinois for more than 45 years, maintains 11 office locations, and has a staff of over 200 employees, including training and litigation staff with extensive experience. Our 36-county service area includes rural communities, suburban areas, and mid-size urban cities, which necessitates the development of diverse strategies. We encourage our staff to cultivate and utilize creative approaches to reach and serve our client population. Employees of PSLS benefit from the expertise and community connections of their local office staff, along with robust program-wide resources. We strive to provide an array of services responsive to the needs of our clients. PSLS has excellent fiscal controls and upholds the highest rating from Charity Navigator and Guidestar. For more information regarding PSLS services and operations, please visit our website at https://pslegal.org.