POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: COMMUNITY LAWYER 

THE CITIZEN ADVOCACY CENTER 

DATED: NOVEMBER 2023 
 
THE ORGANIZATION

The Citizen Advocacy Center (“CAC”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building democracy in the 21st Century by strengthening the public’s capacities, resources, and institutions for self-governance. Now entering its 30th year and based in the Chicagoland area, the CAC, through its Community Lawyers, applies legal advocacy, community organizing, public policy analysis, media outreach, civic education, and litigation to foster the growth of citizen-initiated community engagement with government. The CAC’s office is currently located in Elmhurst, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The CAC is seeking a Community Lawyer who is an action-oriented lawyer passionate about democracy and democratic values, uprooting injustice, and working with people who seek advice on how to have a more effective role in civic affairs. Energetic lawyers willing to activate and improve their speaking, community organizing, advocacy, research, writing, mentoring, and litigation skills are encouraged to apply. Lawyers who have leveraged an organization’s Internet presence to create social media campaigns should feature this skill and similarly relevant experience in their application.

The ideal candidate has at least a few years of legal advocacy or litigation experience and desires a long-term public interest legal career. Lawyers with less experience but who exhibit dedication to public interest law and high self-motivation will also be considered. The Community Lawyer must be able to work in a team environment with a diverse group and have the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities. The Community Lawyer must also be comfortable speaking in a public setting and interacting with CAC constituents on a near-daily basis.

START DATE: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

​Compensation: $40,000 - $44,000, depending on prior experience, with the potential to
increase based on job performance and ability to contribute to the development and growth of the CAC. Benefits include health care, vacation, semi-remote or flexible time work, and participation in a profit- sharing plan when vested. The CAC is an equal opportunity employer.

Applicants should email a cover letter and resume to Executive Director/ Community Lawyer Jack Bentley at jbentley@citizenadvocacycenter.org.

COMMUNITY LAWYER RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
 
ADVOCACY 

• Engage with citizens and organizations that contact the CAC regarding concerns about participation in the government decision-making process and issues of public significance;
• Answer legal questions regarding matters of public concern and that fit within our mission and criteria of building democracy for the 21st Century;
• Conduct legal research and writing to convey information in “non-legalese;” and refer citizens who have legal problems that are outside the scope of the CAC’s service or beyond the CAC’s capacity;
• Subject to available resources, help community groups organize campaigns and plan strategies that will enable them to advance their cause;
• Advocate on behalf of the democratic process and issues that affect the wellbeing of the communities served by the CAC by writing, giving testimony or public comment at government meetings, and speaking to community groups and professional organizations;
• Work with policymakers and educators in the Chicagoland area to advance civic engagement policies across a broad spectrum, including statewide civic education; and
• Execute grant-related work as developed in collaboration with the executive director. 

CIVIC EDUCATION 

• Facilitate Democracy Workshops for the public, the press, and public officials about the laws that enable and ensure citizen participation in the governmental decision-making process on matters of public significance;
• Mentor high school, college, and law student interns and supervise their projects and the projects of other volunteers, including cooperating attorneys; and 
• Educate citizens and youth about being active, informed, and effective community leaders through presentations, written materials, one-on-one engagement, and the media. 

MONITOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS 

• Monitor local governments for abuses of power and undemocratic practices;
• Hold government officials and entities accountable for anti-democratic policies that dissuade public participation; and
• Litigate where appropriate or necessary to enforce and strengthen public​ policies that support democracy and democratic protocols.