Jobs and Careers

Visiting Staff Attorney – UI HEAL Medical-Legal Partnership, Department of Medicine

University of Illinois Chicago

United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 19 May 2026

💰 $100,000/yr

About the role

Visiting Staff Attorney – UI HEAL Medical-Legal Partnership, Department of Medicine

Hiring Department: Department of Medicine

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1041132

Posting Close Date: June 3, 2026

Salary: The budgeted salary for the position is $100,000. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including equivalent years in rank, training, and field or discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary
The Visiting Staff Attorney for UI HEAL provides direct civil legal services as part of an innovative medical-legal partnership (MLP) embedded within the Department of Medicine. UI HEAL integrates legal advocacy into healthcare settings to address health-harming legal needs related to social determinants of health.

The Staff Attorney delivers legal representation to patients and families served by the Lifespan Disability Clinic and Two-Generation Clinic, collaborates closely with interdisciplinary healthcare teams, supervises law student externs, and supports education, outreach, and program evaluation activities. The position also contributes to referral coordination, healthcare provider training, and the development of partnerships that improve health equity and access to justice.

Duties & Responsibilities

Legal Services and Representation • Provide direct legal representation to patients in civil legal matters impacting health, including housing, public benefits, education (IEPs and 504 plans), disability rights, workplace accommodations, guardianships, discrimination, retaliation, and related issues. • Represent clients in administrative proceedings, mediations, negotiations, and court proceedings as appropriate. • Identify health-harming legal needs in collaboration with healthcare providers and clinical staff. • Perform client intake and conflict checks to establish attorney–client relationships when appropriate. • Conduct legal research, analyze applicable law, and develop case strategies. • Maintain and manage legal matters using approved case management systems. • Provide brief services, information, and advice, or make strategic referrals when matters fall outside the scope of UI HEAL.

Referral and Partnership Coordination • Evaluate cases for in-house handling or external referral. • Develop and maintain relationships with legal aid organizations, pro bono partners, and community-based service providers. • Manage and strengthen referral networks to ensure continuity of care for patients. • Respond to “curbside consults” from clinicians regarding legal issues affecting patients.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration • Participate in clinical team meetings with physicians, social workers, community health workers, and other staff. • Integrate legal advocacy into patient care planning and care coordination. • Serve as a subject matter expert on legal determinants of health within clinical settings.

Externship and Student Supervision • Design, implement, and oversee a legal externship or trainee experience for UIC law students. • Develop training materials and orientation resources to support experien