Legal Aid Chicago

Ignacio Sainz
 Background
Information
• Founded in 1966

• Funded by government and

donations

• Located on 120 S. LaSalle St.

(Downtown)

• 84 full time attorneys

• We help people living in poverty

• Mission Statement: Legal Aid

Chicago seeks justice for people
living in poverty.
Culture of Organization

• Very informal

• Communication, Dress Code

• Open door policy

• No conflict yet

• Report to my supervisor and he handles it from there

 Human Resources

• Formalized HR department

• For my specific situation the

director of volunteer services
helped me

• HR does not interact with staff

• Some meetings/training for

specific things
Organizational Chart
 External Partners

• Most employees are full time

• Some Pro Bono

• Money comes from

government so funding
depends on politics
 Me as an Intern
• First day of work I had one
person show me around and
explained what I will be doing

• All interns get a training guide

• I will be attending some of the

court dates

• I do not see myself working

here after graduation but
maybe after law school
 Me as an Intern

• Pros: Small team. A lot of experience.

• Cons: Same thing over and over. Have not had the chance to go to court with
the attorneys.

• My relationship with my boss is very informal.

• I do not have a specific project. I work on the documents as clients come in and
need petitions or expungement orders done.

• Two informal interviews: