Staff Attorney – Early Planning ADRD

2-2 yrs required

Full-time

No

# Staff Attorney – Early Planning ADRD

The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) is committed to providing free legal services to low-income older adults and people with disabilities. CDEL strives to provide access to the legal system to assist their clients in asserting their legal rights and live better lives.

CDEL is seeking an experienced Staff Attorney to serve as the project lead for their program focused on early planning for persons impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. The Staff Attorney will become familiar with end-of-life planning and will be responsible for developing materials, creating community partnerships and connections, and training pro bono volunteers.

## Responsibilities
* Conduct intakes and advise clients on advance planning matters
* Manage a time-sensitive caseload
* Supervise program staff, interns and volunteers
* Coordinate outreach with community partners
* Draft and present advance planning documents
* Create culturally appropriate outreach and training modules for three specific populations: LGBT+, African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx
* Educate caregivers on their roles as agents or guardians
* Monitor and interpret laws, rules and, ordinances
* Other duties as assigned

## Qualifications
* Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois
* Two years of experience as a practicing attorney preferred, but will consider newly licensed attorneys
* Experience with estate planning documents preferred but not required
* Ability to travel to client locations
* Demonstrated commitment to CDEL’s target population and social justice preferred
* Ability to speak and write Spanish preferred
* Ability to speak and write additional languages a plus

## Required Skills
* Experience with direct client services
* Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines
* Adaptability
* Detail-oriented
* Familiarity with CDEL’s client base, including working with older adults and people with disabilities
* Team player with a sense of humor

## Salary and Benefits
CDEL is offering a competitive salary range between $58,000-$68,000, depending on experience for a full-time position. CDEL also offers a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance. CDEL also has a generous personal time off policy.

## About the Organization
The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) provides high-quality, pro bono legal assistance to persons marginalized by poverty, age and/or disability. CDEL’s organizational structure consists of a modest in-house staff which supports a network of hundreds of volunteer attorneys, students and paralegals. CDEL volunteers provide legal representation in a wide range of civil practice areas including: guardianship, simple estate planning, landlord/tenant, consumer debt and fraud, elder abuse and real estate. CDEL has also developed a number of limited engagement opportunities for those volunteers that are unable to handle cases that require long-term client commitments.

CDEL is a welcoming community that engages, encourages and empowers those who are members of underrepresented communities, and is a dedicated advocate for their clients who hold many diverse identities and experiences across race, color, sex, age, religion, class, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge, source of income, housing status and gender identity. They believe that these communities must be centered in the work they do, and strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized and underrepresented communities.

The position is open immediately and will be closed when filled. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, writing sample and resume via email to with the subject line “Staff Attorney – Early Planning ADRP.”

Not Specified

Health/dental/vision insurance, 401(k) plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, generous personal time off policy

Spanish Preferred, Ability to Speak and Write Additional Languages a Plus

Direct Client Services, Strong Organizational Skills, Ability to Manage Multiple Cases and Deadlines, Adaptability, Detail-Oriented, Familiarity with CDEL's Client Base, Working with Older Adults and People with Disabilities, Team Player, Sense of Humor

Licensed to Practice Law in the State of Illinois

Submit a cover letter, writing sample and resume via email to with the subject line “Staff Attorney – Early Planning ADRP.”

Qualification and Experience Licensed to Practice Law in the State of Illinois, Two Years of Experience as a Practicing Attorney Preferred, Will Consider Newly Licensed Attorneys, Experience with Estate Planning Documents Preferred but Not Required, Ability to Travel to Client Locations, Demonstrated Commitment to CDEL's Target Population and Social Justice Preferred, Ability to Speak and Write Spanish Preferred, Ability to Speak and Write Additional Languages a Plus

Legal