Community Resource Specialist - West Suburban

at  Prairie State Legal Services

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, Inc. seeks a Community Resource Specialist for its West Suburban office. Community Resource Specialists at PSLS serve as bridges for better communications between PSLS staff and the people we serve, including victims of domestic violence, older adults, veterans, and residents of neighborhoods that have been deeply impacted by poverty and incarceration. Community Resource Specialists also serve as liaisons between PSLS and partner agencies to connect PSLS clients with resources beyond legal services.
Community Resource Specialists work in collaboration with the local Staff Attorneys and Community Engagement Manager to address a range of legal problems that impact the ability of our clients to meet their fundamental requirements for physical safety, access to healthcare, adequate housing, and education, and to eliminate barriers to employment. The Community Resource Specialist will work with local Staff Attorneys and Community Engagement Manager to make services more widely available through various outreach efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent education required
• Commitment to improving access to legal aid
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Proficient with computers and online tools
• Comfort with public speaking, presenting to small and mid-sized groups, meeting new people, and engaging with community organizations
• Experience working with the community at large and specifically working with diverse populations preferred
• Moderate travel is necessary; valid driver’s license and/or reliable transportation is required

Among other duties as assigned, the Community Resource Specialist will:

• Establish connections with the communities we serve to build trust and gather data regarding areas of legal need
• Identify locations to present legal information or offer intake services and coordinate scheduling such activities
• Identify community meetings or events to attend to learn more about community issues and needs and provide information about PSLS services
• Utilize online legal information resources to help residents find legal information
• Assist with creating and conducting a multi-session training program for community residents to learn to be a volunteer community resource to their peers
• Work with the Staff Attorneys to connect clients with resources outside of PSLS