Associate Director, Legal Services

Cook County Government; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 168,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision

Basic Term Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

Voluntary Benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Hybrid work environment with telecommu

telecommuting and flexible scheduling

Job summary

Cook County Government seeks an Associate Director, Legal Services (Public Defender Office) to oversee daily activities of attorney supervisors and attorneys in multiple offices. The role demands leadership, budgeting, and strategic direction while ensuring high-quality criminal defense representation.

The candidate must hold a JD, have 6+ years of relevant defense experience, 4+ years of supervisory work, and a license to practice law in Illinois.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate (JD).
• Six (6) years as a criminal, immigration or family defense attorney or related experience.
• Four (4) years of prior supervisory or lead experience.
• License to practice law in the state of Illinois.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily activities of multiple attorney supervisors and attorneys.
• Provide guidance on case preparation, handling, and disposition as a legal expert.
• Manage planning, budget, personnel, training, and general administrative services.
• Advise leadership on complex issues and suggest changes to rules and procedures.

Skills

Criminal defense knowledge

Trial advocacy

Legal research

Staff management

Leadership

Strategic planning

Licensure requirements

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD)

6+ years defense attorney experience

4+ years supervisory experience

Illinois bar license

Job description

Job Description - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, LEGAL SERVICES (PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE) ACTIVELY RECRUITED - VARIOUS LOCATIONS (00139627)

Requisition ID

00139627

Organization

Offices Under the President

Job Posting

Sep 30, 2026, 11:15:09 PM

Closing Date

Oct 15, 2026, 4:59:00 AM

Full-time Shift Start Time : 8:30 A.M. Shift End Time : 4:30 P.M.

• Cook County Offices
• Under The President
• Administrative Hearings
• Auditor
• Bureau of Administration
• Bureau of Economic Development
• Bureau of Finance
• Bureau of Human Resources
• Bureau of Technology
• Facilities
• Office of the President

Job Summary

Oversee and direct the daily activities of multiple attorney supervisors and attorneys. Act in a managerial, supervisory, administrative, and technical capacity. Function as a legal expert regarding proper case preparation, handling, and disposition. Act in the capacity of a resource person to provide both guidance and materials to ensure that the appropriate legal representation occurs. Represent clients or assist in the preparation of cases which include complex felony cases at the trial level assigned to the Public Defender. Responsible for the management and supervision of various activities, including planning and direction, budget and finance, personnel, training, and general administrative services. Responsible for delegating work to staff. Advise leadership on complex issues, including corrective recommendations, as well as suggest possible changes to rules and procedures.

*This position is Actively Recruited and at Will.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate (JD) and
• Six (6) years as a criminal, immigration or family defense attorney or directly related experience.
• Four (4) years of prior supervisory or lead experience.
• License to practice law in the state of Illinois.

*Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States’ territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Knowledge equivalent to that of a practicing criminal defense attorney or civil litigant, including, but not limited to, areas such as criminal or civil procedure, trial advocacy, and evidence.
• Ability to perform tasks under highly stressful situations in diverse circumstances; skill in dealing with multiple cases and projects of varying complexity and priority.
• Ability to manage professional and/or skilled support staff on a day-to-day basis.
• Ability to lead within the established objectives and make decisions regarding daily priorities and the application of technical/business processes for a work group or segment of a department.
• Ability to set overall direction and hold staff accountable for accomplishing work objectives by fostering positive relationships between employees, leadership, and stakeholders.
• Ability to use organizational and/or department objectives and goals to identify processes by which to meet those goals.
• Ability to obtain and maintain license and/or certification requirements.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary Work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

Group and Voluntary Benefits Offered

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• Voluntary Benefits
• You May Qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/
• For eligible employees the County has a hybrid work environment which allows employees telecommuting and flexible scheduling options.

Salary : $187,212 / Yearly

*Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

*This position requiressuccessful completion of post-offer tests, which may include a background check, drug screen and medical examination.

COOK COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Falsification of any information in the application process will result in disqualification, dismissal after hire, and/or placement on the County’s Ineligible for Rehire List for a period of two (2) or five (5) years. For current County employees, such falsification may result in discipline, up to and including termination, and placement on the County’s Ineligible for Rehire List for a period of two (2) or five (5) years. See Cook County Code of Ordinances, Article II, Sections 44-54 Unlawful Practices Relating to Employees and Employment - Penalty, 44-56 Political Discrimination; Cook County Employment Plan, Section V.N. Pre Interview License and Certification Verification; Supplemental Policy No. 2014-2.13 Ineligible for Rehire List; and Cook CountyPersonnel Rules 3.3(b) (7) (d).

EEO Statement

Cook County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") employer. Cook County prohibits illegal discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, source of income, housing status, militaryservice or discharge status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other protected category established by law, statute or ordinance as further defined in Chapter 44. Human Resources, Article II. Personnel Polices, Section 44-53 of the Cook County Code of Ordinances and Chapter 42. Human Relations, Article II. Human Rights, Section 42-35 of the Cook County Code of Ordinances. *Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Social Media

Disclaimer8 The County’s hiring process is governed by the Cook County Employment Plan which prohibits employment actions from being influenced by any Political Reasons or Factors for Non-Exempt Positions. The advertisement of this position by any individual does not constitute an offer or promise of employment, promotion, or any other employment action and shall not influence the County’s hiring decision. Cook County officials and employees who become aware of or receive a complaint that involves an allegation of Political Reasons or Factors being considered in the hiring process of Non-Exempt positions are obligated to refer the complaint to the Cook County - Office of the Inspector General. If the Cook County Inspector General sustains allegations of Political Reasons or Factors being considered, Cook County will disqualify the Applicant or Candidate from consideration for employment and disciplinary action will be imposed on any involved Cook County employees, if applicable.