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.

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. is seeking a Legal Secretary to join our team in the Waukegan office. Legal Secretaries at PSLS provide a wide-range of legal support to attorneys that enables them to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, including low-income individuals, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. We focus services on legal problems that impact the ability of our clients to meet their basic human needs, including physical safety, access to healthcare, adequate housing, and financial stability. Prairie State is the only legal aid organization in the majority of our area and we pride ourselves on providing high quality legal services to our clients while fostering a work environment that is motivating, collaborative, and rewarding, with plenty of opportunities for professional growth.

Responsibilities
The Legal Secretary will participate in a full range of office duties in a fast-paced environment including, but not limited to:

• Working with PSLS attorneys to assist clients in a wide range of legal problems, including family law, domestic violence litigation, administrative law, Social Security Disability benefits, landlord/tenant, and other matters.
• Supporting the attorneys in their legal work including assisting with and preparation of routine pleadings, notices, subpoenas, correspondence, and other similar documents; scheduling court dates; e-filing; scheduling client appointments in open cases; assisting with medical and other records requests; assisting attorneys with file organization and review of closed files; and assisting with filing.
• Entering client information and data into case management software
• Performing a variety of other office tasks such as typing, copying, faxing, and emailing
• Greeting clients and answering the phone as needed
• Conducting initial interviews with applicants
• Generating case reports as needed
• Assisting with medical and other records requests
• Serving as the recording secretary for the office’s weekly case assignment meeting
• Periodically assisting with outreach and off-site intakes

Salary and Benefits
The Legal Secretary position is a full-time position at 37.5 hours per week. PSLS offers a salary competitive with similar organizations. Our Legal Secretary salary scale starts at $35,000 per year for candidates who meet the minimum qualifications, 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 including employer contributions
• Extensive training and education program
• PTO that starts at nearly 3 weeks/year and increases with additional years worked at PSLS
• Paid sick leave
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
• 12 paid holidays

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be highly organized, dependable, and self-motivated. Applicants should have:

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent and either one additional year of relevant education or one year of experience in the legal field
• Interest in and commitment to assisting low-income individuals in the resolution of their legal problems
• Strong computer skills including proficiency using Microsoft Word and Excel
• Excellent oral/written communications
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as a team member
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred, but not required
• We will give preference to candidates who have experience providing services to low-income individuals

Application Details
Please indicate “Waukegan Legal Secretary” in the subject line and email a letter explaining your interest and experience, resume, and three references to careers@pslegal.org.

Resumes accepted until position is filled.
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 not for profit civil legal aid organization that has served northern and central Illinois for more than 40 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 and 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