Join Us

The Illinois Prison Project is a nonprofit organization in Chicago that seeks to reduce mass incarceration by providing legal services to individuals incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections. We focus on novel and creative approaches to prison reduction including mass commutation campaigns, sentence restructuring, public education, and advocacy.

IPP is hiring a Staff Attorney, who will represent people incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in commutation, medical release, and other post-conviction matters. The ideal candidate is passionate about criminal legal reform and the clients we work with, a creative thinker, and an excellent writer. Illinois licensure is required.. IPP requires all team members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be required.

Candidates should be certified or have equivalent experience and be available to begin full-time work no later than September 2, 2025. 

Responsibilities include:

• Advocate for incarcerated clients in criminal legal and quasi-legal matters, including in proceedings before judges, the Prisoner Review Board (PRB), the Department of Corrections, and Governor.
• Collaborate with partner organizations and allies to build support for advocacy efforts, including commutation campaigns
• Meet regularly with policy makers, including members of the Prisoner Review Board, prosecutors, and agency staff
• Communicate regularly with incarcerated clients and their family members by phone, mail, and in-person
• Organize and track voluminous case materials, and maintain up-to-date client information in IPP’s case management system

Desired Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree from ABA-accredited law school
• Licensed to practice law in Illinois by date of employment
• One to five years of practice experience, with any experience preferably being in criminal law
• Commitment to criminal legal reform in Illinois and social, economic, and racial justice.
• Comfortable working with a wide variety of incarcerated clients, including clients with mental illness
• Be self-driven, creative, highly energetic, and innovative
• The ability to work collaboratively with staff, interns, and volunteers
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and produce quality results
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and orally
• Proficiency using Google and Microsoft suite; prior experience with case management software a plus
• Strong proofreading and detail-oriented research and writing skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends as required
• Ability to commute to IPP’s office in Chicago and travel throughout the state for prison visits, parole board hearings, and other events.
  

Location: IPP maintains a hybrid work environment, including working remotely and out of IPP’s office at 53 West Jackson Blvd in Chicago, Illinois. Consistent with IPP’s hiring practices, this position can be remote but hiring preference is given to local candidates or candidates who plan to relocate locally. Certain tasks or events, however, may require that the Staff Attorney be physically present in Chicago.

Reports To: Supervising Staff Attorney

Compensation: This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $65,000, and planned quarterly bonuses equivalent to $99,069-$128,795, in accordance with IPP’s payscale which is based on experience. Full benefits that include generous vacation leave, sick leave, and 401k along with health, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, life insurance.

Illinois Prison Project is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Illinois Prison Project believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as an organization, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

How to Apply:

• Please send via email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three references, in a single PDF file, to hiring@illinoisprisonproject.org with “Staff Attorney” in the subject line.
• Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Due to the large volume of applicants, we cannot guarantee that we’ll be able to reply to individual emails about an applicant’s status. No phone calls, please.

‍

The Illinois Prison Project (IPP) is a nonprofit organization in Chicago that seeks to reduce mass incarceration by providing legal services to individuals incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections. IPP focuses on novel and creative approaches to prison reduction and engages in public education, advocacy and direct legal representation. IPP’s mechanisms for release include clemency, parole, youth parole, medical release, resentencing, administrative relief and post-conviction filings. IPP is hiring a full-time Paralegal. Candidates should be certified or have equivalent experience and be available to begin full-time work no later than September 2, 2025. 

Candidates should be passionate about this work, attentive to detail, skilled at locating and managing voluminous legal documents, and possess excellent professional communication skills. IPP requires all team members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be required. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Manage a high volume client portfolio 
• Obtain, organize, review, and synthesize digital and physical case files for incarcerated clients and non-clients, including medical records, mental health records, court documents, and IDOC records 
• Send FOIAs and conduct other investigative tasks 
• Manage client correspondence, including incoming and outgoing mail 
• Schedule legal calls and provide other legal assistance to attorneys 
• Manage data collection, tracking, and recording for client records; keep accurate and thorough client records on IPP’s case management software, Filevine 
• Collect letters of support from loved ones/supporters and related to reentry 
• Potentially assist with reentry case management for incarcerated clients and their families 
• Assist attorneys with communicating with client’s family members and supporters 
• Open, scan, organize, distribute, and file (digitally and physically) the Legal Team mail 
• Other administrative tasks as assigned 

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or have had an equally effective and relevant alternative educational or professional experience 
• At least two years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant 
• A deep commitment to criminal legal change in Illinois and social, economic, gender and racial justice 
• Ability to independently manage voluminous case files 
• Excellent personal and professional communication skills 
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team 
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends as required 
• Located near Chicago and able travel throughout Cook County for document collection and throughout the state for prison visits, parole board hearings, and other events 
• Proficiency using Google Suite, Excel, Telzio, and Zoom; prior experience with Filevine (or other legal case management software) a plus 

Location: IPP maintains a hybrid work environment, including working remotely and out of IPP’s office at 53 West Jackson Blvd in Chicago, Illinois. Consistent with IPP’s hiring practices, this position can be remote but hiring preference is given to local candidates or candidates who plan to relocate locally. Certain tasks or events, however, may require that the paralegal be physically present in Chicago

Reports To: Paralegal Supervisor 

Compensation: This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $60,000, and planned quarterly bonuses making the total salary equivalent to $68,315-$88,808 in accordance with IPP’s payscale which is based on experience. Full benefits that include generous vacation leave, sick leave, and 401k along with health, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance. 

Illinois Prison Project is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Illinois Prison Project believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as an organization, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. 

How to Apply: 

• Please send via email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three references, in a single PDF file, to hiring@illinoisprisonproject.org with “Paralegal” in the subject line. 
• Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  
• Due to the large volume of applicants, we will not be able to reply to individual emails about an applicant’s status. No phone calls, please.

The Illinois Prison Project Associate Board's mission is to build support for the organization through volunteering, fundraising, and spreading the word about our mission to end mass incarceration. We exist to introduce IPP to the next generation of advocates, activists, volunteers, and donors interested in actively advancing our organization and mission.

If you are passionate about IPP and willing to invest your time and talent, we welcome you to apply! 

Member Qualifications

• Minimum 25 years of age
• Alignment with IPP’s core values
• A willingness to volunteer, donate, and promote IPP’s mission
• Prior engagement with IPP (as donor, volunteer, intern, ambassador, and/or community partner) is a plus!
  

Membership Benefits

• Advocate for thousands of needlessly incarcerated people and their loved ones.
• Network with other passionate, like-minded, early career professionals from a variety of backgrounds and industries.
• Host events and fundraisers to increase support for the organization and its mission.
• Receive invitations to events and participate in our annual gala

Link to application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiXxonZSLZjoybzEWyR91myko9ZyR3OvRqsvgA_hyOyN1QMw/viewform