Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois (LTF) is a charitable foundation that provides financial support to non-profit legal aid organizations based in Illinois. LTF’s mission is to support the provision of civil legal services to low-income residents throughout the state in an efficient, effective, and equitable manner. Our annual grants – which totaled more than $21 million in 2024 - support non-profit legal aid programs across the state of Illinois.
We are seeking a dynamic, inquisitive, and motivated professional to join our team as the Director of Community Justice Initiatives reporting to the Executive Director. Candidates must live in the Chicagoland area.
The Director of Community Justice Initiatives (DCJI) will have two main roles.
The First Is To Lead LTF’s Efforts To Support Legal Aid Programs In Their Efforts To Reach Under-served Populations Through Community Partnerships. The Expertise Brought To And Gained In This Role Will Help Guide LTF’s Internal Efforts And Will Be Shared With Other Members Of The Illinois Legal Aid Community, Including Providers And Funders. The DCJI Will Focus On Implementing The Final Recommendations In The Community Partnership Study Conducted For LTF In 2023 – 2024, Which Include:

• Planning and convening meetings that bring together legal aid organizations and community partners to learn about community needs, share best practices, and elevate opportunities for future collaboration and impact. These convenings could be organized based on geographic regions, types of legal services provided, etc.
• Creating and supporting ongoing opportunities for peer learning and collaboration among legal aid community practitioners and community partners, including the possible formation of a community advisory board for the legal aid sector.
• Developing library/toolkit of resource materials on community partnerships for practitioners, including information about best practices, partnership checklists, and templates for critical documents (e.g., MOUs, information release forms, client satisfaction surveys).
• Collecting the data necessary to map and inventory existing community partnerships to determine their scope and extent, based on geography, legal subject area, and client characteristics, identifying critical gaps through an equity lens.

The Second Role Will Be To Serve As a Member Of The LTF Grant Review Team During The Annual Grant Process And Will Include:
Reviewing grant applications

• Conducting site visits
• Drafting recommendations.
• Provide significant input into outreach efforts to identify emerging legal aid organizations in underserved communities.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required; juris doctor degree strongly preferred.
• At least five years’ experience working in a legal aid/public interest legal organization, along with experience in a role that involves working closely with community-based organizations is strongly desired.
• Preference will be given for prior experience working in a community-based setting (e.g., a social services organization or other not-for-profit entity providing health, education, organizing, and/or advocacy services).
• Cultural competency to establish effective relationships and build trust with individuals from and/or serving historically marginalized communities.
• Demonstrated aptitude for project management and program design.
• Excellent research, writing, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated interest in helping people, advancing human rights, and/or assisting individuals seeking just and equitable outcomes through the legal system;
• Commitment to bolstering the role of civil legal aid in providing access to legal solutions in a manner consistent with LTF’s mission;
• A strong work ethic and independent problem-solving skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Salary & BenefitsThe Director of Community Justice Initiatives is a full-time, mostly remote position with an annual salary range of $100,000 to $125,000, depending on relevant experience. The position offers excellent benefits, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO medical insurance; dental, vision, and life-insurance coverage; paid vacation and paid time off. 401(k) with a match is also offered.
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