Assistant State’s Attorney, Civil Actions Bureau

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 107,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office invites applications for an experienced Assistant State’s Attorney in the Civil Actions Bureau. This on-site role at the Daley Center involves defending county officials in civil actions and potentially initiating litigation while receiving strong training and support.

Candidates will handle motions, trials, and complex civil matters; must possess a J.D., be licensed in Illinois or eligible by motion, and have at least five years of legal experience with

Qualifications

• Must have excellent organizational skills and meet all deadlines.
• Excellent legal research and writing abilities.
• Ability to articulate sound legal arguments orally and in writing.
• Ability to manage discovery effectively and file appropriate objections.

Responsibilities

• Defend Cook County officials and employees in civil actions in official capacity.
• May initiate civil litigation or intervene on behalf of the SAO or other Cook County officials.
• Litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials in federal/state court and before administrative bodies.
• Work closely with multiple county agencies and officials to represent the office and Cook County’s interests.
• Collaborate independently and with support staff; manage time and priorities effectively.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Litigation experience

Oral advocacy

Legal research

Legal writing

Independent work

Team collaboration

Discovery management

Education

J.D.

Job description

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney, Civil Actions Bureau

Reports to: Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor of relevant section

Location: Daley Center

Bureau: Civil Actions Bureau

Division/Section: Placement in a particular section is dependent on level of experience and the needs of the Bureau.

Salary: $106,635 -$170,483. Salary is provided by law; however, individual compensation is based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set and years and quality of experience. Any salary offered is determined by the Chief of Staff and is non-negotiable.

Note: The Cook County State's Attorney's Office does not sponsor H1-B work visa petitions or provide letters of support for employment. Employees must be able to work in the United States, without support, from the date of offer.

Note: This position is on-site, in-person.

General Description

The Civil Actions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is seeking experienced attorneys to join our Bureau as an Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA). We represent Cook County officials and employees in a wide array of litigation matters as well as providing legal advice to county agencies. Practice areas include advice and counsel, civil rights and torts defense, constitutional claims, labor & employment, medical malpractice defense, real estate tax matters, revenue recovery efforts, statutory litigation (including FOIA and FOID litigation and defense of County ordinances), transactions, and workers’ compensation litigation. All of our practice groups are highly collegial and collaborative. ASAs handle their own matters, but never without the training and support they need to be successful. The Civil Actions Bureau is a great place both for experts in their substantive area of practice and those who are just beginning to develop a specific litigation skillset.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Will be assigned to defend Cook County officials and employees in any civil action filed against them in their official capacity.
• May be assigned to initiate civil litigation or intervene on behalf of the SAO, or any other Cook County elected official.
• Will litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials in federal and state court, as well as in front of administrative bodies.
• Expected to work closely with multiple county agencies and officials to represent the office and the interests of Cook County.
• Able to work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Be either a member in good standing with the Illinois bar, or eligible for admission to Illinois bar on Motion (reciprocity).
• Must have been a licensed attorney for at least 5 years.
• Must have at least 3 years of litigation experience.
• Must have excellent organizational skills and meet all deadlines.
• Must have excellent legal research and writing abilities.
• Must demonstrate the ability to articulate sound legal arguments both orally and in writing, as well as articulate the rationale for decisions made.
• Must manage discovery effectively and efficiently, including filing appropriate objections including motions to quash.
• Must have a solid work ethic and show attention to detail and accountability.
• Must have the ability to work independently as well as be part of a team, including support staff and non-attorney clients.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant civil litigation experience in the areas of law and forums in which we practice.
• Institutional knowledge of one or more parts of Cook County government.
• Experience representing government clients.
• Experience with evidentiary hearings and preliminary injunctions.
• Experience working on appeals.
• Achievements demonstrating creative thinking and legal analysis.

Working Environment

In this role, the Assistant State’s Attorney will be assigned to the Daley Center in Chicago, Illinois and will be expected to attend court virtually and in person as required by individual federal and state court judges and ALJs. An Assistant State’s Attorney in the Civil Actions Bureau typically handles their case load independently, but with plentiful training and support, and a wealth of opportunities for collaboration.

Physical Requirements

Light work. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

Equal Employment Opportunity

EEO Message: The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is an equal opportunity employer, which seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The CCSAO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request, the CCSAO will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals due to a disability or pregnancy. The EEOP report can be found on our website at www.cookcountystatesattorney.org.

Benefits

At Cook County, we believe in investing in you, our valued employee. We understand that your well-being directly impacts the quality of service we provide to our community. That's why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial stability, and work-life balance. Here's a snapshot of what we offer:

• Choose from a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans to best suit your lifestyle and needs.
• We provide a robust Paid Time Off (PTO) program, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, as well as 13 paid holidays.
• As a public service employer, our employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Our Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling and referral services to help you navigate life's challenges.
• And of course, a pension plan through Cook County.

Follow this link to the Cook County Benefits and this link to Cook County Pension Fund if you want to learn more about our amazing benefit coverage. The CCSAO does not provide relocation assistance.