Director of Criminal Records Relief

Westside Justice Center

Legal Services Director at Westside Justice Center managing Criminal Records Relief program in Chicago. Overseeing legal support for immigrant individuals navigating the U.S.

Posted 4/23/2026full-timeChicago • Illinois • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $85,000 - $90,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Oversee the work, engagement, and success of attorneys and paralegals
Support direct reports with clear expectations, direct feedback, and needed support
Ensure equitable professional development and career growth for all direct reports
Develop program manuals, guides, and other documents to support the work of the legal services program
Create workflows
Organize and attend departmental meetings
Participate in staff recruitment and hiring process
Provide leadership and training to Legal Services staff
Maintain WJC legal practice manual, including motions, pleadings, guides, and other materials for legal program staff
Liaise with partner organizations and provide occasional trainings or outreach presentations
Prepare periodic reports for internal and external purposes
Collaborate with members of the Senior team to evaluate WJC programming
Assist with legal representation/legal counsel
Coordinate client intakes
Provide legal consultation and conduct research to assist problem-solving around intakes and resolution of cases

Requirements

What you’ll need

Licensed to practice law in Illinois
4 (four) years’ experience in the practice field
Nonprofit experience preferred
Supervision experience preferred
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, crisis-oriented, self-directed environment
Strong project management skills
Proven ability to prioritize work
Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and orally, with staff, volunteers and partners
Ability to explain complex legal situations compassionately and effectively to people in crisis
Excellent interpersonal skills
Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
401(k) retirement plan

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

legal consultationlegal researchprogram developmentworkflow creationreport preparationclient intake coordinationlegal representationmotion draftingpleading preparationtraining development

Soft Skills

project managementcommunicationinterpersonal skillsorganizational abilitiescollaborationleadershipfeedback provisionproblem-solvingplanningdelegation

Certifications

Licensed to practice law in Illinois