Legal Services Director oversees the activities of the organization's legal department. Provides legal advice, interpretation, and guidance to senior management and officers regarding contracts, state/federal regulatory requirements, intellectual property or trademark protection, and other business matters. Being a Legal Services Director reviews all information and prepares defense for any legal actions against the organization or advises on prosecuting lawsuits on behalf of the organization. Coordinates and reviews the work of internal or external legal staff. Additionally, Legal Services Director manages staff of attorneys. Requires a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school. Requires admittance to a state bar. Typically reports to top management. The Legal Services Director typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. To be a Legal Services Director typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments. (Copyright 2024 Salary.com)
Every day, people across Illinois are denied the basic rights to which they are entitled under the law simply because they can’t afford a lawyer. It’s our mission to change that.
Prairie State Legal Services is seeking a Director of Legal Services to assist the Director of Legal Operations in providing leadership, direction, and oversight to PSLS’ 11 local offices and ensure consistent and equitable delivery of high-quality legal services throughout PSLS’ 36-county service area. The ideal candidate is process-oriented with strengths in organization, leadership, and problem-solving.
Responsibilities
The Director of Legal Services reports to the Director of Legal Operations and is responsible for assisting the Director of Legal Operations with the day-to-day support and oversight of local office legal operations and providing input on the organization’s overall legal strategy. Some key responsibilities include:
Competencies
Education/Experience
Perks and Benefits
PSLS is committed to providing an excellent, comprehensive benefits package to its full-time employees that includes:
Application Details – Resumes accepted until position is filled
Please indicate “Director of Legal Services” in the subject line and email a letter identifying your office preference and explaining your interest and experience, resume, and three references to careers@pslegal.org.
Prairie State Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, expression or presentation, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.
The Organization
PSLS is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization that has served northern and central Illinois for 45 years, maintains 11 office locations, and has a staff of over 200, including training and litigation staff with extensive experience. Our 36-county service area includes rural communities, suburban areas, and mid-size urban cities, which necessitates the development of diverse strategies, and we encourage our staff to cultivate and utilize creative approaches to reach and serve our client population. Employees of PSLS benefit from the expertise and community connections of their local office staff, along with robust program-wide resources. We strive to provide an array of services responsive to the needs of our clients. PSLS has excellent fiscal controls and upholds the highest rating from Charity Navigator and Guidestar. For more information regarding PSLS services and operations