Assistant State's Attorney - Entry Level

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 97,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO (vacation, sick)

PSLF program

Employee Assistance Program

Pension plan

13 paid holidays

Job summary

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago seeks an entry level Assistant State’s Attorney to join the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, and Juvenile Justice Bureau. You will prosecute misdemeanors, traffic and juvenile delinquency cases and support the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials.

This in-person role requires a J.D. from an accredited law school, admission to the Illinois bar by Nov 2026, and strong legal research and writing abilities.

Qualifications

• Must possess a law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Be a member in good standing with the Illinois bar or scheduled for admission to the Illinois bar in November 2026.
• Excellent legal research and legal writing abilities.
• Demonstrate the ability to articulate sound legal arguments both orally and in writing.
• A solid work ethic and show attention to detail and accountability.
• Ability to work independently as well as be part of a team, including courtroom personnel.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute matters under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois.
• Manage misdemeanor, traffic, and juvenile delinquency caseloads; review evidence for felony charges; handle preliminary hearings, grand jury indictments, and detention hearings.
• Work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials.
• Work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating.
• Effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community.
• Litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials and all functions related to the aforementioned trials.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Oral advocacy

Independent work

Team collaboration

Time management

Communication skills

Education

J.D. from accredited law school

Illinois bar admission by Nov 2026

Job description

Who We Are

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) is a diverse and dedicated team of professionals committed to justice and safety for over five-million residents. As the second-largest prosecutor's office in the U.S., the CCSAO prosecutes criminal and regulatory violations across six bureaus and four units with a staff of over 1,200.

Our Mission

To uphold justice and public safety in Cook County by fairly, ethically, and effectively prosecuting crime, supporting victims, and protecting the rights of all residents.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking individuals who share our passion for justice, diversity, and the well-being of the community. Whether you are a legal professional, an investigator, or an administrative specialist, we value dedication, integrity, and a commitment to our values of accountability, respect, and fairness. Join our team if you are ready to make a tangible impact, work collaboratively, and uphold the principles of justice with unwavering dedication. At the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, your skills and values will help shape a safer and stronger Cook County.

Assistant State's Attorney – Entry Level 0-4 years’ Experience

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney – Entry Level 0-4 years’ Experience, Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, Juvenile Justice Bureau

Reports to: Supervisors and Deputy Supervisors within the various bureaus

Location: Municipal, Juvenile, and Domestic Violence courts in Chicago, IL and surrounding suburban districts including Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview, and Markham

Bureau: Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, Juvenile Justice Bureau

Division/Unit: Criminal Misdemeanors (City or Suburban), Domestic Violence Misdemeanors (City or Suburban), Traffic, Juvenile Justice (Delinquency), Felony Review. ***Placement of units is dependent on level of experience and needs of CCSAO***

Salary: $96,608 -$112,093. Salary is 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.

Please note that employees must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The CCSAO does not sponsor employees for work visas.

• Applicants must be licensed in Illinois or scheduled for admission to the Illinois bar on November 4, 2026, to be considered***

General Description

The Cook County State’s Attorney Office is seeking entry level Assistant State’s Attorneys to join the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Special Victims Bureau, and Juvenile Justice Bureau in the Criminal Misdemeanors (City or Suburban), Traffic, Domestic Violence Misdemeanors (City or Suburban), Juvenile Justice (Delinquency), and Felony Review units.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Will prosecute matters under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois
• Will be required to manage misdemeanor, traffic, and juvenile delinquency caseloads; review evidence for felony charges; handle preliminary hearings, grand jury indictments, and detention hearings
• Will be expected to work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials
• Work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating
• Effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community
• Litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials and all functions related to the aforementioned trials

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Be a member in good standing with the Illinois bar or have received their 2026 bar results and scheduled for admission to the Illinois bar in November 2026
• 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 work independently as well as be part of a team, including courtroom personnel

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 and traffic caseloads. 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. ***All entry level positions require in-person attendance***

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

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.