Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)

State of Illinois; Springfield (MO); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid parental leave

Pension plan

Deferred compensation

Paid sick days

Paid vacation days

Paid personal days

State holidays

Job summary

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) seeks a Legal Counsel – Labor and Employment to provide specialized guidance on labor matters, FOIA requests, and discrimination issues. This role interfaces with union representatives during grievances and conducts in-depth legal research to support IDEC policies and procedures.

Under the General Counsel's direction, you will ensure contractual obligations are met and contribute to IDEC's mission in early childhood initiatives.

Qualifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited school of law.
• Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois.
• Requires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized legal guidance on labor and employment matters for IDEC.
• Engage with union business representatives throughout grievance processes.
• Conduct extensive legal research on state and federal laws, IDEC policies, and procedures.
• Serve as secondary FOIA liaison with a focus on labor, personnel, and discrimination matters.
• Perform other duties within the scope of responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

IL Law License

Labor & Employment Law

FOIA requests

Union relations

Discrimination investigations

Workplace investigations

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Illinois bar license

3 years legal admin experience

Job description

Job Requisition ID: 59124
Opening Date: 10/20/2026
Closing Date: 11/03/2026
Agency: Department of Early Childhood
Class Title: PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - 37015
Skill Option: Special License - Illinois Law License
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $8,571 - $10,000 per month ($102,852 - $120,000 per year)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: None
Merit Comp Code: Confidential (Management Bill) Exclusion from RC010 Collective Bargaining Coverage
Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 2 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs
Headquarter Location: 4800 Wabash Ave, Springfield, Illinois 62711 or 115 S Lasalle St, Chicago, Illinois, 60603
Work County: Sangamon or Cook
Agency Contact: [e-mail]

A resume is highly encouraged to evaluate your qualifications and skills as part of your application. Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application if you decide to provide one.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview:

Under the direction and subject to the approval of the General Counsel, the Legal Counsel – Labor and Employment for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) provides specialized legal guidance on labor and employment matters impacting the department. This position engages directly with union business representatives throughout the grievance process, ensuring contractual obligations are met and leveraging union partnership as appropriate. The Legal Counsel conducts extensive and complex legal research related to all functions of the Office of Legal Services, including state and federal statutes, regulatory requirements, and IDEC policies and procedures. In addition, the position serves as the secondary Office of Legal Services contact for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, with primary responsibility for matters involving labor relations, personnel issues, and discrimination. The Legal Counsel performs other duties as assigned that are reasonably within the scope of responsibilities outlined above, supporting the overall mission and operations of IDEC’s Office of Legal Services. If you are interested in contributing to the mission of a growing state agency dedicated to Early Childhood initiatives, we encourage you to apply for the Legal Counsel – Labor and Employment position with IDEC!

Illinois Department of Early Childhood offers a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday schedule
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid Parental leave
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs
• Employees earn (12) paid sick days annually
• (10-25) paid vacation days (based on years of service)
• Employees earn (3) paid personal days (pro-rated based on start date)
• (13-14) paid state holidays annually

Work hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon by supervisor during the onboarding process.

Essential Functions:

• Subject to management approval of the Deputy General Counsel, serves as the Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).
• Engages with Union business representatives as needed throughout the grievance process, using them as a resource and involving them when contractually appropriate.
• Conducts extensive, complex legal research on legal issues related to all Legal Division functions, State and Federal Law, and IDEC Policy and Procedures.
• Serves as secondary Legal Division Contact regarding Freedom of Information Act requests with a primary focus on labor, personnel, and discrimination requests.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires graduation from an accredited school of law.
• Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois.
• Requires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing legal representation in labor and employment matters, including handling discrimination charges before entities such as the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Human Rights Commission, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Proven experience conducting thorough workplace investigations, including interviewing employees and management, analyzing evidence, and preparing legally sound findings and recommendations consistent with policy, past practice, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Knowledge of labor relations and experience working within a unionized environment, including engaging with union representatives, supporting grievance processes, and fostering collaborative labor-management relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal research and draft legal analyses, policies, or procedures involving State and Federal laws, particularly in areas related to labor, personnel, discrimination, or administrative law.
• Experience responding to or advising on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, especially those involving labor, personnel, or discrimination matters, with the ability to review, analyze, and appropriately apply statutory disclosure and exemption requirements.

Conditions of Employment:

• Requires the ability to successfully pass a criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.
• Requires the ability to successfully pass a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
• Requires the ability to use and maintain state-issued equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, and other necessary equipment as required.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency:

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is the state's first standalone agency dedicated exclusively to advancing equitable access to high-quality early childhood programs and services for young children, their families, and the professionals who support them. Established in 2024 and operational as of July 1, 2026, IDEC brings together early childhood programs and services previously administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) into one unified agency. IDEC works to make Illinois' early childhood system simpler, fairer, and more accessible by improving access to services, strengthening program quality, supporting the early childhood workforce, and streamlining the experience for families, providers, and communities. Through collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence, IDEC is building a stronger early childhood system that helps every child thrive and every family succeed.