CARPLS Legal Aid was established as the first legal aid hotline in the country in 1993 and has been a national innovator ever since. Our mission is to ensure that anyone in need can access legal help. Through our committed staff and continued technological development, CARPLS has grown into a lead partner on four statewide programs and serves Cook County as the largest provider of free legal services.
We’re always looking for talented, mission-driven people to join our team. Browse our current openings below, or submit a general application to be considered for future opportunities.
Current Openings
Full-Time Paralegal
CARPLS is Cook County’s largest provider of free legal services, having provided over one million legal consultations to low- and moderate-income residents. We operate a legal aid hotline and three court-based advice desks for Cook County, and partner on the Cook County Legal Aid for Housing & Debt Early Resolution Program (ERP) and the statewide New Leaf Illinois, Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network, COVID HELP Illinois, and Eviction Help Illinois projects.
We’re currently seeking a full-time Paralegal to support the legal work of our legal aid hotline and court-based advice desks. The Paralegal will support the hotline by taking calls from existing clients calling back for more direction, information, or advice; answering client questions as appropriate; and screening client situations for new legal developments to route to an attorney, all under the supervision of a supervising attorney. The Paralegal will also work on other CARPLS desks and projects as assigned — assisting with intake, screening for conflicts of interest, talking with returning clients, and drafting first-draft court pleadings for attorney review — as well as assisting with client publications, social services resources, scheduling, data management, general research, management of client documents, outcome client surveys, and legal research and writing.
Qualifications:
- Graduate of an ABA-accredited Paralegal program (bilingual in Spanish preferred)
- Prior legal aid, public interest, and/or family, consumer, or housing law experience encouraged
- Adept with MS Word, Adobe, and Zoom; advanced computer skills required
- Able to work independently after training
Benefits: 401(k) with employer match, health insurance, optional vision and dental, life insurance, and pretax transit benefits.
To apply, please include a resume and cover letter using the form below. Please reference “Paralegal Position” and address your cover letter to Patricia Cintron-Bastin, Supervising Attorney, Spanish Language Services & Paralegals.
CARPLS is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to having a diverse workplace. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply.
