Operations and Human Resources Intern

About Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) was established in 1973 to serve the legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within Chicago's Cabrini Green public housing community. Since then, CGLA has grown beyond a single neighborhood to become a citywide, countywide, and statewide leader in proactively filling the void of legal representation, wraparound services, legal information and resources, and advocacy exclusively for low-income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal legal system. Any engagement with the criminal legal system can greatly disrupt an individual, family, and community's quality of life.

CGLA is distinguished among legal aid service providers locally, throughout Illinois, and nationally as having expertise in legal matters related to the direct and collateral consequences of the criminal legal system. Since 2014, we have been the sole legal aid services provider serving Cook County with the distinction of focusing exclusively on individuals and families who have been adversely impacted by the criminal legal system in all legal program areas: criminal records, emerging adults, criminal defense, housing law, and family law. We provide direct legal services, advocate for policy reforms, and provide legal information and resources to other legal aid organizations, pro bono attorneys, and the general public. We also support our clients holistically with wraparound social services from our social workers. Our policy and advocacy work is not performed as a separate entity; rather it is informed by our legal services and the lived experiences of our Leadership Council, an Advisory Group made up of former CGLA clients and community members directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

CGLA’s Mission, Purpose and Vision

• Mission: We provide holistic legal services that include social support services and advocacy for individuals and communities negatively impacted by the criminal legal system.
• Purpose: CGLA exists to remove barriers to equity in the criminal legal system.
• Vision: A more just and equitable criminal legal system.

Position Overview:

CGLA’s Operations and HR Intern assists with administrative tasks related to Operations and Human Resources. The position requires a highly organized and detail-oriented individual who will ensure the smooth and effective operation of the organization’s Operations and Human Resources teams. This role provides administrative, organizational, and client-facing support functions.

This position is unpaid, but CGLA is open to applicants that have their own external funding sources.  Timeline is flexible, but would want a commitment to start June 1, 2026 and work August 7, 2026.

Key Responsibilities

 Operations Support

·       Assist with office supply inventory, ordering, and organization.

·       Help restock kitchen, snack areas, and shared office spaces.

·       Organize storage office.

·       Support staff workspace setup, desk organization, equipment distribution and asset disposal.

·       Assist with vendor scheduling, service requests, and building maintenance logs.

·       Help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming office environment.

HR Support

·       Assist with onboarding tasks such as preparing welcome packets, desk setups, and orientation materials.

·       Support scheduling for staff trainings, onboarding sessions, and HR‑related reminders.

·       Support ad hoc HR projects as needed.

Administrative Support

·       Data entry and database upkeep.

·       Filing, scanning, and documentation management.

·       Support Reception Desk responsibilities.

Qualifications

·       High school diploma or GED required; some college coursework preferred.

·       Strong organizational and time‑management skills.

·       Excellent verbal and written communication.

·       Comfortable with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Excel, Teams, SharePoint).

·       Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information professionally.

·       Interest in nonprofit work, HR, operations, IT, or workplace administration.

·       Positive, team‑oriented attitude and willingness to learn.

Learning Outcomes

·       Nonprofit operations and organizational workflows

·       HR processes, onboarding frameworks, and compliance fundamentals

·       Workspace logistics, office management, and administrative systems

·       Project coordination, prioritization, and professional communication

·       Exposure to IT processes and cross‑department collaboration

·       Practical use of Microsoft 365 tools in a professional environment

Please apply at www.cgla.net