Staff Attorney at Equip For Equality Inc. – Chicago, Illinois

For 40 years, Equip for Equality has been advancing the human and civil rights of people with disabilities across Illinois. Among our many accomplishments, Equip for Equality has made Chicago public transportation more accessible, helped tens of thousands of people with disabilities move from institutions into the community, increased inclusive education and educational outcomes for students with disabilities, and enhanced safety and quality of care in a variety of settings. We have offices throughout Illinois.

Equip for Equality has three teams: the Civil Rights Team, the Special Education Clinic, and the Independent Monitoring Unit. Our dedicated staff of over 40 attorneys, social workers, and administrative staff work every day to advance our mission. As we work to improve society’s inclusion of individuals with disabilities, we also strive to be a welcoming workplace.

Equip for Equality’s Civil Rights Team is hiring an experienced attorney to work in the community integration self-determination practice group. The work in this practice group involves advocacy and litigation promoting community integration to support individuals to live in the most integrated community setting; protecting the right to be free from abuse and neglect; advancing individuals’ legal rights in institutions and community settings; and promoting self-determination and personal decision-making in the context of guardianship and other forms of substituted decision-making

Required Experience:

• A law degree from an accredited law school.
• A license to practice law in Illinois, or admission to the Illinois State Bar, within one year of employment.
• A minimum of two years of legal practice.
• Demonstrated commitment to civil rights and disability rights.
• Strong written and oral communication and organizational skills, including for effective advocacy, collaborative work, litigation, and strategic planning.
• Creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving approaches.
• Ability to work collaboratively on a team as well as to self-direct.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working with people with disabilities.
• Fluency in Spanish
• Understanding of Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers and guardianship laws.