Assistant State's Attorney, Criminal Division - Experienced

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

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office seeks experienced Assistant State’s Attorneys to join the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, and Multi Jurisdiction Bureau in Cook County, IL. Positions require 5+ years of experience and involve prosecuting across multiple locations, including Chicago and suburban courthouses.

Candidates must be licensed in Illinois or eligible for admission, with strong trial, research, and writing skills; this is an on-site, full-time role.

Qualifications

• Must have 2–5 years of criminal trial experience.
• Must possess a law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Be a member in good standing with the Illinois bar, or eligible for admission on Motion.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute criminal cases in Chicago and Cook County, including various courthouses.
• Work closely with law enforcement agencies and represent the People of Illinois in hearings and trials.
• Litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials, and handle pre-trial matters.
• Prepare witnesses and victims for testimony and coordinate with multiple bureaus.
• Meet deadlines and make charging decisions in felony matters through hearings or indictments.

Skills

Criminal trial experience

Legal research and writing

Oral and written advocacy

Time management

Independent and team work

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney – Experienced 5 + years, Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, Multi Jurisdiction Bureau

Reports to: Supervisor and Deputy Supervisors of the various Bureaus

Location: Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, Multi Jurisdiction Bureau, Chicago, IL municipal courts, and surrounding suburban districts including Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview, and Markham. All interested candidates must be prepared to be assigned to any CCSAO location in Cook County.

Bureau: Criminal Prosecution’s Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, Multi Jurisdiction Bureau

Division/Unit: Varies

Application deadline: Rolling

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.

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

General Description

The Cook County State’s Attorney Office is seeking experienced attorneys to join the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, and the Multi Jurisdiction Bureau.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Will be assigned to cover geographical areas (e.g., Chicago, Suburban Courthouses, etc.) in Cook County.
• Will be prosecuting under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois.
• Expected to work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials
• Able to work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating.
• Able to effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community.
• Will litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials and all functions related to the aforementioned trials
• Work with witnesses and victims to prepare for testimony
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications And Skills

• 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 5-10 years
• Must have 2-5 years of criminal trial experience
• Must understand and meet all deadlines
• Knows and understands the elements of felony offenses and evidentiary rules
• Excellent legal research and legal writing abilities
• Demonstrate the ability to articulate sound legal arguments both orally and in writing, as well as articulate the rationale for decisions made
• A solid work ethic and show attention to detail and accountability
• Ability to make appropriate charging decisions in felony matters through preliminary hearings or indictment before the Grand Jury of Cook County
• Ability to work independently as well as be part of a team, including courtroom personnel
• Managing Discovery

Preferred Qualifications And Skills

• 3-6 years of criminal practice
• 2-6 years of prosecutorial practice
• 2-6 years trial experience either at the misdemeanor or felony level
• Ability to run a daily court call

Working Environment

In this role, the Assistant State’s Attorney will be assigned to cover geographical areas (i.e. Chicago, Suburban Courthouses, etc.) in Cook County. The Assistant State’s Attorney will be prosecuting under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois. The Assistant State’s Attorney will be required to manage misdemeanor, felony and traffic caseloads. The Assistant State’s Attorney will also handle preliminary hearings, grand jury indictments, and detention hearings for felony cases. The Assistant State’s Attorney will be expected to work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials. The Assistant State’s Attorney must be able to work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating. The Assistant State’s Attorney must be able to effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community.

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.