Title: Research and Development Intern
Status: 10-12 hours/week
Reports to: Research and Evaluation Manager
Salary: Unpaid internship
Hire Date: LCLC will close the posting as soon as we find an exceptional candidate
Who We Are
Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC) specializes in providing a unique form of holistic community-
based criminal defense representation grounded in restorative justice principles to minors and emerging
adults (24 and under) from North Lawndale. This highly relational, innovative community-led model of
justice is performed by an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, case managers, outreach workers, and strategic
community partners that provide developmentally appropriate supports for minors and emerging adults. The
team identifies and meets the legal and social needs of our youth at every phase of the criminal justice
system: from diversion, arrest, through trial, and the completion of any period of probation, supervision, and
parole. By serving justice-involved minors and emerging adults holistically in their community, LCLC is
leading the transformation of the traditional criminal justice system and establishing new best practices in
community-based holistic interventions grounded in restorative justice that are more effective, cost less, and
result in greater public safety for all. We believe our holistic, community-led (approximately 70% of our
staff and Board of Directors are from North Lawndale) restorative justice model will transform the criminal
justice system and end mass incarceration when we scale our model across Cook County and the nation.
More information on LCLC can be found at www.lclc.net.
Our North Lawndale Community
North Lawndale is vibrant and resilient. We are proud to be part of the community and hire staff from the
neighborhood. Our office is located next door to the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Apartments and Exhibit
Center, built on the site where Dr. King lived for six months during his Chicago Freedom Campaign in 1966.
North Lawndale is tightly-knit, and we are gratified by our affiliation with the Lawndale Community Church,
North Lawndale Community Restorative Justice Hub, and North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council;
community leaders that have helped bring health, economic development, housing, and legal services to the
community. Even so, after decades of disinvestment, “white flight”, redlining, and other harbingers of systemic
poverty and violence, North Lawndale still suffers from high levels of poverty, economic hardship, violence,
and over-policing.
In North Lawndale, approximately 850 officers are assigned to the two police districts that patrol 35,000
residents. In addition, a significant percentage of specialized units (which are historically aggressive and
abusive) have been ordered to rove in our community. More than 1,500 youth are arrested in North Lawndale
yearly, the second highest rate in Chicago. Indiscriminate stops and searches of North Lawndale residents are
a daily occurrence; 66% of adults surveyed perceived no legitimate reason for their most recent police stop. A
startling 59% of adults in North Lawndale have been arrested, 30% convicted, and 27% jailed.
Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges of violence, poverty, and police brutality that our youth
encounter in North Lawndale, they demonstrate hope, resolve, and a drive to succeed and make their
neighborhood a better place. We are continually inspired by our clients’ resilience and positivity in the face
of external challenges. It is both an honor and a privilege to help them walk away from the criminal justice
system and equip them to take control of their future.
1530 S. Hamlin Ave, Chicago, IL 60623 773.762.6381 LCLC.NET
Job Description
The Research & Development Intern works with the data and development teams to help LCLC to be a data-
driven organization. The intern will attend team meetings, manage client data that our legal and social teams
put into our case management system, conduct analyses on data, present results of analyses to the data team
and program staff, and assist in producing internal reports as well as reports for funders. The intern will work
5-10 hours/week, primarily virtual but may be required to be in office for specific meetings or events.
Preferred Qualifications
• Familiarity with statistical software programs (i.e., SPSS, STATA, R, etc.)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet programs (e.g., Google Spreadsheet)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Passion for social justice, particularly as related to the criminal justice system
• Ability to work in teams and independently
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Superior communication skills (written and oral)
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse staff, clients, and community partners.
Lawndale Christian Legal Center is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical
condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran
status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All aspects of employment including
the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and
organizational needs. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of those we serve.
North Lawndale residents and minorities encouraged to apply.