The Chicago Bar Foundation
Director of Advocacy--Job Description
The Director of Advocacy for The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) is responsible for the
oversight and management of policy advocacy activities for the CBF. The Director of Advocacy
is appointed by and reports to the CBF’s Executive Director.
The CBF, a nonprofit charitable organization, offers a competitive salary, comprehensive
benefits package and flexible work environment. The salary range for the Director of Advocacy
position--a full-time position--is $65,000 to $75,000, depending upon experience. The CBF is an
equal opportunity employer.
The Chicago Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Bar Association,
improves access to justice for people in our community who are impacted by poverty, abuse, and
discrimination. Our mission is grounded in the belief that access to justice is central to our
democratic society, that the legal community has a special responsibility to be a leader in
ensuring that the justice system is accessible to everyone, and that the concerted efforts of a few
can make a real improvement in the lives of many.
We accomplish our mission by strategically giving grants and other support to legal aid
and public interest law organizations--and providing leadership, expertise and advocacy--to
advance four overarching goals: (1) engage the legal community to contribute their time and
money and to use their influence to improve access to justice; (2) build the capacity of the pro
bono and legal aid delivery system; (3) make the justice system more user-friendly and
accessible for the public; and (4) promote broader community awareness and support for access
to justice.
EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES
The Director of Advocacy is required to have:
 A bachelor’s degree or higher;
 A solid understanding of the Illinois and federal legislative and policymaking
processes;
 Prior Illinois and/or federal legislative and policy experience
 A demonstrated understanding of, and dedication to, the mission of the CBF to
improve access to justice for the less fortunate in our community;
 Excellent communications skills, both oral and written, to promote the cause of
equal access to justice to policymakers and to engage and inspire Board members,
volunteers, staff and other stakeholders, particularly CBF grantees, the members
of the Chicago Bar Association, and the larger Chicago area legal community.
It is strongly preferred that the Director of Advocacy:
 Is a licensed attorney with experience in the practice of law that includes pro bono
experience;
 Experience with media and communications; and
 Has prior leadership experience.
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The Director of Advocacy also should possess the following skills and experience:
 A significant record of accomplishment and proven effectiveness as a leader both
within an organization and in the larger community;
 A solid understanding of the legal community;
 Familiarity with the pro bono and legal aid delivery system for low-income
persons in Illinois;
 Excellent management and organizational skills; and
 A record of working effectively towards common goals with people and
organizations representing diverse sets of interests.
Professional Strengths and Characteristics:
The following professional strengths and characteristics are important in the CBF Director of
Advocacy:
Leadership Capabilities
 The ability to think strategically;
 Credibility and stature to inspire the confidence of the CBF Board, staff,
volunteers and other stakeholders;
 The ability to make decisions effectively, to maintain a firm sense of direction, to
motivate employees and volunteers to participate, and to take a clear stand on
issues while maintaining an overall environment of teamwork and collaboration;
 The highest ethical character and integrity;
Project Management Skills
 Flexibility and a strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously;
 Problem solving and analytical skills to help foresee challenges and opportunities
for the CBF;
 Excellent follow through and attention to detail;
 Motivation to obtain results coupled with the patience and understanding that
policy initiatives generally do not come to fruition quickly;
Persuasion and Motivation Capabilities
 Personable demeanor, with the ability to quickly win trust with individuals;
 The ability to think strategically;
 A keen interest in and sense of what motivates individuals to get behind a cause;
 A hunger to persuade others;
 The ability to reframe rejection as a positive challenge;
 The ability to "read" others and customize an approach towards them; and
 The ability to manage and resolve conflicts, confrontations and disagreements by
forming positive alliances with stakeholders and achieving compromises and
mutually beneficial solutions.
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JOB DUTIES:
The Director of Advocacy will have principal responsibility for oversight and
management of the CBF’s advocacy for measures that improve access to justice on a systemic
level. As detailed below, this work will primarily include outreach to federal, state and local
policymakers and to the courts. The Director will work with CBF staff; the CBF Advocacy
Committee and the full CBF Board; the CBA legislative counsel; the CBA Director of
Governmental Affairs; the CBA Legal Aid Committee and other relevant CBA committees; the
CBA Board of Managers; other advisory board members and volunteers for the CBA and CBF;
and other relevant local and national organizations (CBF grantees, ISBA, ABA, NLADA, etc.)
on the following efforts:
1.
Coordinate CBA and CBF advocacy efforts at federal, state and local level for funding
for legal aid, and related funding for the courts.
 Coordinate Illinois advocacy efforts for federal Legal Services Corporation
funding and, where appropriate, other federal funding for legal aid and access to
justice initiatives.
 Coordinate advocacy efforts for state and local funding for the courts, specifically
court funding for self help centers and appointed counsel programs.
 Serve as the CBF’s principal representative for the Equal Justice Illinois
Campaign for state funding and coordinate Chicago-area legal community’s
efforts in the Campaign.
 Coordinate efforts for other local government funding of legal aid and access to
justice initiatives.
2.
Lead CBA/CBF advocacy with the courts and administrative agencies for policies
promoting access to justice, including:
 Advocacy for adoption of self help centers and “pro se friendly” procedures for
the courts and major state and local administrative agencies.
 Advocacy for measures to ensure due process in the administrative system
governing immigration matters.
3.
Lead CBA and CBF legislative and policy efforts on federal, state and local loan
repayment assistance/forgiveness initiatives for legal aid and public interest attorneys.
4.
Coordinate CBA and CBF legislative efforts on other policy issues relating to access to
justice and the legal aid community, working with the CBF Executive Director and the CBF
Advocacy Committee to prioritize issues.
5.
Work with law firms, pro bono coordinators, and CBF Advisory committees to engage
more pro bono participation on advocacy issues relating to access to justice.
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6.
Working with the CBA Legal Aid Committee, the Donors Forum and other relevant
organizations, engage CBF grantee organizations and the larger legal aid community on
advocacy issues:
 Provide workshops on advocacy issues relevant to legal aid community
 Provide periodic policy updates to legal aid community on relevant advocacy
issues
7.
Work with Donors Forum and others on nonprofit regulation issues impacting the CBF
and its grantees.
8.
Develop and maintain relationships with key elected officials and staff and stay current
on relevant legislative and policy issues.
9.
Work with CBF Executive Director and CBF Board and staff to integrate the CBF’s
advocacy work into the larger work of the CBF, including marketing and development.
10.
Staff CBF Advocacy Committee and possibly other joint policy initiatives.
11.
Other Duties to include:
 Develop and implement advocacy training for the CBF Board and staff
 Assist with CBF marketing and communications initiatives that involve advocacy,
including taking principal responsibility for the Advocacy section of the CBF website
 Attend major legal and philanthropic community events to help build awareness of
CBF and develop donor relationships.
 Participate in Donors Forum and other philanthropic initiatives.
 Maintain awareness of CBF projects, latest news in legal community, and issues
affecting CBF mission.
APPLICATIONS
The Chicago Bar Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. To apply for the Director of
Advocacy position, please send resume and cover letter by May 21, 2008 to: Bob Glaves, Executive
Director, The Chicago Bar Foundation, 321 S. Plymouth Court, Suite 3B, Chicago, IL 60604 or
bglaves@chicagobar.org. No phone calls please.
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