SEIU Local 73 seeks to hire a Staff Attorney to work as a member of the Local’s legal department and handle the day-to-day legal affairs of the Local.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• provide legal advice to staff and officers;
• serve as lead counsel at arbitration, personnel-related, and administrative hearings, labor board proceedings, and other litigation, and handle all related duties, such as case evaluations, preparing witnesses and documents, document review and preparation, tracking cases in the union’s central database, oral argument, writing briefs and conducting legal research;
• provide legal support for organizing campaigns;
• ensure compliance with regulatory mandates, including Beck notifications, LM obligations and 990 reports, LMRDA requirements, lobbying reporting and registration laws, other requirements concerning electoral work and campaign finance;
• review all contracts with vendors, insurance contracts, and review real estate issues;
• advise human resources representatives and officers in decisions regarding staff, human resources, and dealings with the staff union;
• defend the union against charges, lawsuits, etc. brought against it;
• conduct staff and membership trainings; and
• serve as the union’s liaison with outside counsel.

Job Qualifications and Requirements

• Must have a juris doctor from an accredited law school and must hold a valid license to practice law in Illinois (exceptions can be made if planning to take the bar).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are requirements of this position.
• Knowledge of labor law, especially as relates to collective bargaining, unfair labor practices, mediation and arbitration; ability to interpret laws, decisions and regulations.
• At least a year of legal experience with the following types of organizations is highly significant: labor unions, progressive issue advocacy organizations, community organizations, political campaigns and elected officials, employer/union relations. Experience in internal and/or external organizing is preferred.
• Personal commitment to the mission and goals of SEIU Local 73 is a requirement of this position.
• Computer literacy and the ability to learn union-specific computer systems within the initial months of employment is a requirement.
• Occasional in-state travel and overnight travel may be required.
• Strong personal planning and time management skills, ability to develop and carry out work plans with minimal supervision, and ability to work with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds are also necessary skills.
• Excellent independent judgment and attention to sensitive relationships and confidential information are considered key components to achieving performance standards.
• Commitment and capacity to maintain the highest level of integrity, judgment, confidentiality and discretion in managing union information and resources.
• A cell phone and drivers’ license are requirements of this position.

Working Conditions

• The position is based in the Chicago headquarters of the union.
• Long and irregular hours frequently required.
• The position includes a competitive salary based on experience and a package of benefits that includes paid holidays, vacations, fully paid health benefits including health, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits. All staff in the union are participants in a defined benefit pension plan fully paid by the employer. Cell phone and mileage reimbursement is provided.
• This position is a confidential, managerial, exempt, non-bargaining unit classification.

Background
With nearly 30,000 members, SEIU Local 73 has a proud history of raising standards for workers and their families. The Local represents service, technical and professional workers primarily in the public sector in Illinois and Indiana who are employed in state government, local government, school districts, publicly funded social service agencies and colleges and universities. Our members keep our buildings and communities safe and clean and our families healthy, they care for our children and our elderly, and keep our cities and states running.

Local 73 is committed to bettering the lives of working people through organizing workers to create a powerful voice in the workplace to win fair wages, meaningful benefits, a sustainable retirement and job protection.

SEIU Local 73 is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) with 2 million members in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Local 73 is united with those 2 million members in a shared belief in the dignity of workers and the value of their work and in a commitment to a more just and humane society.

To Apply
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter with salary requirements, writing sample, and resume to the Hiring Committee at careers@seiu73.org. Interviews will begin the week of August 5, 2024, and continue until the position is filled.