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Legal Assistance Foundation Seeks Part-Time Attorney to Staff Bankruptcy Court Help Desk

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

PART-TIME STAFF ATTORNEY
BANKRUPTCY COURT – SELF-HELP ASSISTANCE DESK
Background: The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF), a not-for-profit corporation, is the principal provider of free civil legal services to low-income and elderly persons in Chicago and suburban Cook County. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the Chicago Bar Foundation are expanding the pro se help desk.
The help desk provides members of the public with basic information about their legal rights and assists individuals without legal representation who wish to file, or have filed, bankruptcy petitions, or who have claims against people or companies who have filed bankruptcy.
Position: LAF is seeking a staff attorney to work part time (60%) at the bankruptcy help desk, which is located in the United States Bankruptcy Court, 219 S. Dearborn. The attorney will field inquiries from pro se bankruptcy litigants, most of whom will be individuals who are trying to file a bankruptcy petition pro se or who have already filed a bankruptcy pro se and want advice about questions that have come up in their case. He or she will explain bankruptcy filing requirements, court procedures, the options available, such as the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, and will assist individuals in preparing petitions and other court-related documents. The attorney will not file any documents or represent individuals who seek aid from the help desk. Where appropriate, the attorney will give the individuals information about other programs that may be able to provide legal representation. This staff attorney will work under the supervision of LAF’s bankruptcy supervisor, and will have access to, and the support of, LAF’s wide ranging legal expertise. The attorney will also work closely with United States Bankruptcy Court personnel and with other organizations that help pro se clients. The hours of work are open for discussion: a possible schedule is 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.
Qualifications: Illinois bar and a minimum of two years of litigation experience required. Experience in bankruptcy court preferred. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with people from all segments of society.
Salary: D.O.E. Excellent fringe benefits.
Applications: Send resume, cover letter, transcript and names of two references by May 28, 2007 to:
David Yen, Supervisory Attorney
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
111 W. Jackson Blvd., 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
(fax) (312) 612-1472
E-mail: dyen@lafchicago.org
LAF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER