Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) envisions our community free from all forms of sexual exploitation and seeks to achieve that by addressing the culture, institutions, and individuals that perpetrate, profit from, or support sexual violence. Our work includes prevention, policy reform, community engagement, and legal services. CAASE is the primary legal referral for all the rape crisis centers serving Chicago, and the only legal services provider in Illinois solely focused on serving victims of sexual assault and prostitution. The goal of our legal department, known as the Sexual Assault Justice Project, is to ensure that every survivor of sexual violence in the Chicagoland area has meaningful access to quality legal counsel. Our legal services are free to all survivors of sexual assault or commercial sexual exploitation, regardless of income. Most victims who come to CAASE have multiple legal issues, and CAASE provides them with advocacy in the criminal system and protection of their rights as crime victims, and with representation in civil venues, including by using the Civil No Contact Order Act, and/or to vindicate any applicable employment, housing, educational, or civil rights.

PILI Fellows with CAASE will be integrated members of the legal team, contributing to the day-to-day operations of the organization and staff. Fellows will participate in all aspects of individual cases, both in the criminal justice system and through litigation in civil court, and will act as the main point-person for some cases. They will participate in settlement negotiations, draft court documents, interview and consult with clients, and present cases in court through Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 and under the supervision of the senior staff attorney. Fellows will also complete legal research on Illinois criminal law and procedure and civil law related to civil no contact orders, employment law, Title IX, the gender violence act, and the justice for victims of sex trafficking crimes act. Training, mentoring, and supervision will be provided by the CAASE senior staff attorney.

This agency is approved to host Graduate Fellows.