Healthcare Clinical Legal Fellow (Postdoctoral Research Associate) - Department of Medicine

Healthcare Clinical Legal Fellow (Postdoctoral Research Associate) - Department of Medicine

Hiring Department: Department of Medicine

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1036515

Posting Close Date: November 1, 2025

Salary: The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000, commensurate with experience.

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 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.

Benefits eligible positions include a comprehensive benefits package which offers: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance; a defined benefit pension plan; paid leaves such as Vacation, Holiday and Sick; tuition waivers for employees and dependents. .

Position Summary
The UIC Department of Medicine seeks to hire a two-year postdoctoral research associate to serve as a clinical legal fellow to begin in Spring 2026 or sooner. The associate will provide civil legal services and teach and supervise law student externs in a new medical-legal partnership, Health Education and Advocacy through Law (UI HEAL).

Patients referred by UI Health providers face complex, civil legal needs, many of which negatively impact their health and well-being. UI HEAL seeks to improve the health of patients in Chicago by expanding the patient/family interprofessional health care team to include lawyers, who bring legal interventions to improve patient health and well-being. It achieves this purpose by providing legal services to patients, promoting upstream policy change, and conducting interprofessional trainings for UIC health professions students, medical trainees, attending physicians, and other healthcare providers, and law students.

Description of the Position
UI HEAL is hiring a full-time clinical teaching fellow / postdoctoral research associate for two years beginning in Spring 2026 or sooner. The fellowship is ideal for an attorney interested in serving clients and developing teaching and supervisory abilities in the context of a medical-legal partnership. The fellow will (i) engage in direct legal representation and policy work to advocate for patients with health-harming legal needs, (ii) supervise law and medical students in casework, (iii) share responsibility for designing and conducting interprofessional trainings, (iv) share in the administrative and case handling responsibilities of the medical-legal partnership, and (v) collaborate in seeking future funding for UI HEAL. The fellow will work closely with the UI HEAL Director.

The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits eligible positions include a comprehensive benefits package which offers: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance; a defined benefit pension plan; paid leaves such as Vacation, Holiday and Sick; tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Visit for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

• A JD degree received within the last five years
• Law school or post-JD experience providing civil legal services to low-income families
• Admission to the Illinois Bar and good standing
• Demonstrated commitment to economic and racial justice
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legal sources and regulations
• Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• A client-centered lawyering orientation, including sensitivity to client needs, cultural nuances, and confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with medical or other health care settings or subject matter
• Prior experience in public benefits, disability, housing, advanced care planning, guardianship, immigration, family law and/or health law
• Spanish language fluency
• Familiarity with legal case management software

• Applications should include the following materials: A cover letter indicating the position you are seeking and describing how you meet the required and any preferred qualifications. A complete resume or curriculum vita A copy of a complete official transcript from the law school which granted the JD, including all courses and grades Names and email addresses of three references, at least two of which should be professional references familiar with your legal skills A legal writing sample of no more than five single-spaced pages A letter of good standing from the Illinois ARDC dated within two weeks of the application.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For fullest consideration, applications should be received by November 1, 2025. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Alan Schwartz, PhD, JD, UI HEAL Director and Search Committee Chair.