Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel - Employment Litigation Division

City of Chicago Department of Law; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A municipal legal department in Chicago seeks a Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel for its Employment Litigation Division. The role demands a minimum of eight years in federal and/or state court employment litigation, with three years in a supervisory capacity. Responsibilities include defending against discrimination allegations, advising on compliance with employment law, and supervising a legal team. Candidates must have a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited school and be admitted to the Illinois Bar.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years of experience in employment litigation.
• Three years in a supervisory role or case-management capacity.
• Experience advising on compliance with federal and state employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Defend the City against discrimination allegations.
• Supervise subordinate attorneys on employment litigation cases.
• Draft and update employment policies and procedures.

Skills

Federal and state court employment litigation

Supervisory experience

Complex employment litigation handling

Jury trials experience

Compliance with employment laws

Policy drafting and updating

Negotiation and settlement experience

Communication skills

Management of legal teams

Education

Juris Doctor degree from ABA accredited law school

Admission to the Illinois Bar

Job description

The City of Chicago Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel ("Chief ACC") in its Employment Litigation Division. The Employment Litigation Division defends the City of Chicago and its officers and employees against allegations of discrimination as well as other civil rights and employment law violations brought by prospective, current and former employees.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• a minimum of eight (8) years of experience in federal and/or state court employment litigation, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role or case‑management capacity related to the responsibilities of the position;
• a previous high level of responsibility for handling complex employment litigation in one or more of the following areas: adverse impact claims, class and/or collective actions, and wage and hour claims;
• experience conducting jury trials as lead or co‑lead counsel, preferably in employment litigation;
• experience advising senior management on personnel policies and best practices regarding hiring, promotions, benefits, performance management, compensation, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, workplace investigations, anti‑discrimination and harassment, discipline, terminations, and workplace safety issues;
• in‑depth knowledge and experience advising clients on compliance with federal, state and local employment laws and best practices, including but not limited to Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA and OSHA;
• admission to the Federal Trial Bar (or eligibility for admission to the Federal Trial Bar pursuant to LR83.11);
• experience drafting and updating employment policies and procedures;
• experience drafting answers/motions, presenting oral arguments, conducting discovery, and attending settlement conferences and mediation;
• experience taking and defending depositions, including expert witnesses;
• experience supervising outside counsel and managing outside counsel spend;
• the ability to train, supervise, and evaluate subordinate attorneys working on employment litigation cases;
• significant negotiation and settlement experience;
• exceptional communication, writing, research, and editing skills;
• the ability to work well with others;
• the ability to manage teams.
• Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree
• Admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligibility for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705), good standing with your state Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission

Disclaimer: "Accredited" means any American law school that has passed and maintains the requirements of accreditation by the American Bar Association (www.americanbar.org).

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer. To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075.

Fair Chance Hiring Employer: The City of Chicago is committed to being a Fair Chance Hiring employer. We value applicants with diverse experiences, including those who have had prior contact with the criminal legal system. Having a criminal history, including prior incarceration, arrest(s), and/or conviction(s) does not automatically disqualify you from employment with the City of Chicago.