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Community Resource Specialist - Ottawa

November 18, 2025

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 is currently seeking a Community Resource Specialist for its Ottawa office. Community Resource Specialists at PSLS serve as bridges for better communication between PSLS staff and the people we serve, including victims of domestic violence, older adults, veterans, and residents of neighborhoods that have been deeply impacted by poverty and incarceration. Community Resource Specialists also serve as liaisons between PSLS and partner agencies, connecting PSLS clients with resources beyond legal services.

Community Resource Specialists work in collaboration with local Staff Attorneys and the Community Engagement Manager to address a range of legal problems that impact our clients' ability to meet their fundamental requirements for physical safety, access to healthcare, adequate housing, education, and to eliminate barriers to employment. The Community Resource Specialist will work with local Staff Attorneys and the Community Engagement Manager to make services more widely available through various outreach efforts.

Responsibilities
Among other duties as assigned, the Community Resource Specialist will:

  • Establish connections with the communities we serve to build trust and gather data regarding areas of legal need
  • Identify locations to present legal information or offer intake services, and coordinate scheduling such activities
  • Identify community meetings or events to attend to learn more about community issues and needs, and provide information about PSLS services
  • Utilize online legal information resources to help residents find legal information
  • Assist with creating and conducting a multi-session training program for community residents to learn to be a volunteer community resource to their peers
  • Work with the Staff Attorneys to connect clients with resources outside of PSLS

Salary and Benefits
The Community Resource Specialist position is full-time at 37.5 hours per week. PSLS offers a salary competitive with similar organizations. The Community Resource Specialist position has a salary range of $42,000 - $55,334 per year and increases with each year of relevant experience. PSLS is committed to providing an excellent, comprehensive benefits package to its full-time employees that includes:

  • Health insurance, including the opportunity to qualify for a wellness credit
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • 403b Retirement Plan
  • Training and education program
  • Travel Reimbursement
  • Flex scheduling and partial remote work
  • PTO that starts at 2.5 weeks/year and increases with additional years worked
  • Paid sick leave
  • 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
  • 12 paid holidays per year

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent education required
  • Commitment to improving access to legal aid
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills
  • Proficient with computers and online tools
  • Comfort with public speaking, presenting to small and mid-sized groups, meeting new people, and engaging with community organizations
  • Experience working with the community at large and specifically working with diverse populations preferred
  • Moderate travel is necessary; valid driver's license and/or reliable transportation is required

Application Details – Resumes accepted until positions are filled
Please indicate “Community Resource Specialist – Ottawa” 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.

PSLS is an equal opportunity employer that strives to create a welcoming environment. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, religion, sex, disability, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service, or other characteristics protected by law.

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.