Beyond Legal Aid

April is #ArabAmericanHeritageMonth and we wanted to take this opportunity to spotlight one of our impactful community partners, Arab American Action Network. To read the spotlight blog post, please follow this link: https://lnkd.in/giFBpbhs

Today we wanted to spotlight a core part of the Development Team, our Research & Writing Intern, Maia! Here she is pictured on a recent team trip to community partner, Enlace Chicago. Maia described this visit as one of her favorite moments at Beyond so far: “It was incredible to see how we collaborate and engage with our community partners. Their space and the sense of community there were truly inspiring.” When asked about her learnings, Maia shared: “Looking back, I’ve grown so much — not just in terms of professional skills, but also in gaining clarity about my future goals. I’ve learned about nonprofit work, grant research, community outreach, planning, and communication. I’ve also deepened my understanding of the work Beyond does and the effort that goes into every initiative. Beyond Legal Aid has been an amazing space for me to explore my passion for activism.” Maia has already supported the Development Team a great deal since joining this past January. We cannot wait to see how much she continues to grow over the summer and all that she will accomplish in her professional career! Please join us in thanking Maia!

Check out this Borderless Magazine article featuring Beyond and our community partner, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council. Thanks Borderless for the mention! https://lnkd.in/gKMpWFSB

Check out this Borderless Magazine article featuring Beyond and our community partner, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council. Thanks Borderless for the mention! https://lnkd.in/gKMpWFSB

We have another tenant training at Nabala Cafe ONE WEEK from today! It’s a Know Your Rights training for tenants that will cover applying for housing, maintenance issues, tenant organizing, eviction process, and options for legal relief. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gdW-4fSk The information shared in this workshop is for general knowledge about tenant rights and is not a substitute for legal advice.

Today is National Farm Workers Day! This holiday commemorates labor activist and civil rights icon Cesar Chavez, whose fight to better the lives of the nation's farmworkers helped improve the inhumane working conditions of the vital, but often overlooked industry. In honor of this holiday, we wanted to spotlight one of our community partners, Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP). FLAP’s mission is to improve working conditions and opportunities, free of charge and without regard to immigration status, for low-wage workers and their households. FLAP shared what this day means to their community members: “For the communities FLAP serves - predominantly low-wage immigrant workers, this day is about dignity and recognition. It is about ensuring that their labor is valued, their voices are heard, and their rights are upheld. National Farmworkers Day serves as a reminder that their fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, and basic rights is far from over.” Given the current political climate and anti-immigrant rhetoric, supporting low-wage workers, including farm workers, is more important than ever. FLAP echoed that sentiment, “The current political climate presents increasing challenges for immigrant workers and low-wage laborers. Supporting low-wage laborers means advocating for stronger labor protections, fair wages, access to legal aid, and policy changes that prioritize worker rights and economic justice. It means amplifying their voices, holding exploitative employers accountable, and ensuring that every worker, regardless of immigration status, has the opportunity to work with dignity and respect. FLAP stands with farmworkers and low-wage laborers every day, providing free legal education, outreach, advocacy, and support to empower them in their fight for justice. National Farm Workers Day is not just a day of recognition but it is also a call to action to protect, uplift, and support the workers who feed and sustain our communities.” If you would like to support FLAP’s efforts, you may contribute to their Facebook Fundraiser in honor of National Farmworker Awareness Week. You can find more information here: https://bit.ly/42reGOY Happy National Farm Workers Day!

Beyond Legal Aid staff visited the Art Institute of Chicago earlier this month as part of a staff wellness event, planned by our happiness committee. In these difficult times for both community and staff, it is important to prioritize both individual and collective well-being of employees. The happiness committee plans regular employee outings and activities to boost morale and provide an outlet for stress relief. Beyond’s happiness committee is made up of staff members who are committed to wellness and finding pockets of positivity in what can be an otherwise emotionally tense style of work. This month, the committee planned an art scavenger hunt at the AIC, where staff got to work together and challenge themselves in a carefree environment. These events always leave staff feeling reinvigorated and ready to dive back into their work.

Earlier this month, The Resurrection Project hosted both our Executive Director, Bindhu Vijayan, and Community Empowerment Supervisor, Saul Brand Padilla, on a panel discussion for their Leaders Labs training. The Resurrection Project (TRP) is an important partnership for Beyond. TRP builds trusting relationships to educate and propel individuals, immigrants and families to achieve their social and economic aspirations, stable homes and equitable participation in their community. Bindhu spoke to the importance of being included on this panel, “This was Beyond’s second year participating in The Resurrection Project’s Learning Lab, and it continues to be a powerful space for shared learning and reflection. Our unique, community-led model offers a different way to think about how legal support can be shaped by and for communities, and being part of this discussion helps others imagine more creative, collaborative approaches to justice.” Thank you to TRP for this learning opportunity!

Come work with us! Beyond is looking to sponsor applications for Postgraduate Legal Fellowships. We are seeking passionate and rising 3L law students interested in applying for 2026 postgraduate public interest law fellowships. The project would begin in August or September of 2026. Beyond has a strong track record of hosting fellows from prestigious programs such as Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, and Soros, as well as law school-sponsored postgraduate fellows. Joining Beyond is contingent upon securing external fellowship funding. Beyond fellows will work directly with and under the leadership of community activists and organizers to provide legal services that align with grassroots advocacy efforts. Fellows will be placed in one of Beyond’s community-based programs, where legal services are offered in key areas such as: Immigration, Housing, Family law, Criminal records relief, and Labor/employment. This is a unique opportunity to engage in community lawyering, integrate legal services with activism, and be part of a model that challenges and transforms traditional legal aid systems. To apply, submit the following materials to hiring@beyondlegalaid.org: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, 3) recent writing sample, and 4) references. Deadline: July 14, 2025 | Rolling Review Process (Early applications encouraged). Candidates will be selected by late July to allow time for collaboration on fellowship applications due in early September.

"For those who are under the impression that this is a viable pathway for return, they are being misled — manipulated through partial truths and a lack of full disclosure," says Executive Director, Bindhu Vijayan. Read the full Jacobin Magazine article here: https://lnkd.in/gR_2Cwy4