Legal Counsel - Staff Attorney

State of Illinois; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Job summary

Illinois Office of the Comptroller seeks a Legal Counsel - Staff Attorney to provide legal guidance, research, and policy analysis for the Legal Services Department. The role supports Directors and Deputies, drafts complex legal documents, and handles confidential assignments.

The office emphasizes strong knowledge of common law, administrative procedures, and current employment and FOIA laws, with a hybrid in-office schedule in Chicago. A law degree and Illinois license to practice are required.

Qualifications

• Requires knowledge of common law and state/federal laws.
• Experience drafting complex legal documents is required.
• FOIA knowledge is preferred but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Advise on agency policy and administer special projects.
• Provide legal advice on outside litigation and compliance.
• Perform legal research and prepare reports for internal/external distribution.
• Counsel agency officials on administrative policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the legal unit.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Research skills

Oral/written communication

Policy analysis

Legal writing

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Illinois bar license

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Requisition ID: 59608

Opening Date: 10/15/2026

Closing Date: 10/28/2026

Agency: Illinois Office of Comptroller

Class Title: LEGAL COUNSEL - 79930

Salary: $110,000/year - $140,000/year

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time

Number of Vacancies: 1

Merit Comp Code: Exempt

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 7.5 hours/day, 37.5 hours/week

Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 3 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs

Headquarter Location: 555 W Monroe St, Chicago, Illinois, 60661

Work County: Cook

Agency Contact: [e-mail]

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

COME JOIN A TRANSFORMATIVE TEAM, with a record of proven, positive impact to the State of Illinois.

The Illinois Office of the Comptroller is seeking applicants for the position of Legal Cousel - Staff Attorney.

The Comptroller is the chief fiscal control officer for the Illinois government, charged by the Constitution with maintaining the state’s central fiscal accounts and ordering payments into and out of the appropriate funds. The office processes more than 16 million transactions annually and serves as a “fiscal watchdog” to ensure that all state payments meet the requirements of the law. The Comptroller’s office provides meaningful and timely fiscal information to help state policymakers adopt effective policies. The office continually seeks new ways to improve how it serves the public. The Comptroller has updated and streamlined the Comptroller’s website and has led the process of updating the state’s payroll and accounting systems. Comptroller Mendoza is committed to running the Office of Comptroller as a financial watchdog for the interest of Illinois citizens and to installing the most modern and transparent systems to make the state’s financial information available to all.

Major Function

Subject to administrative approval of the Chief Legal Counsel, performs highly responsible administrative and regulatory functions as a staff attorney for the Legal Services Department. The Legal Counsel manages special projects in research and operations, provides legal advice and consultation to employees and performs assignments that may be sensitive or confidential in nature.

Job Responsibilities

• Assists Directors and Deputy Directors in the formulation and implementation of agency policy, rules, regulations and general managerial practices; manages various special projects in operations and research including defining goals, securing necessary resources, and completing required tasks.
• Provides legal advice regarding outside litigation for the Office; addresses various miscellaneous legal issues as needed.
• Performs legal, fiscal, or business related research tasks for the Comptroller.
  • Drafts, edits, and compiles materials for, and supervises production of various reports for internal and external distribution.
• Assists in designing and conducting training sessions on current laws affecting Comptroller employees.
  • Counsels agency officials on administrative policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties defined above.

Minimum Requirements

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years of college, a law degree, and a license to practice law in the State of Illinois.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private organization. Any equivalent combination of training and experience may be acceptable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers proven experience interpreting and applying Illinois FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) law, and the ability to make legally supported determinations on record disclosure.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Requires thorough knowledge of common law and of the State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to agency programs.
• Requires extensive knowledge of judicial and quasi-judicial and administrative procedures and of the rules of evidence, hearings, and trial procedures at all judicial levels.
• Requires extensive knowledge in the field of law with which primarily concerned.
• Requires extensive knowledge of the legislative process.
• Requires extensive knowledge of current employment laws.
• Requires extensive knowledge of the function and interrelationship of Federal and State government agencies.
• Requires working knowledge of principles of administration and management, including organization, controls and techniques used in dealing with management and procedural problems.
• Requires ability to plan, lay out, coordinate and review the work of a technical or legal program or units as required.
• Requires ability to draft complex and technical legal documents.
• Requires ability to maintain satisfactory working relationships with superiors, other attorneys, employees and the general public.
• Requires skills and ability to analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence and precedents concerned in difficult and complex cases and in presenting such material in clear and logical form for oral or written presentation, as briefs, orders, reports or decisions.
• Requires extensive knowledge of legal methods, practices and procedures in the agency.
• Requires ability to exercise sound judgment in appraising and evaluating problems of a procedural nature.

Benefits

This position is eligible to be a member of the State of Illinois Group Insurance program which includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage options. Additionally, this position will annually accrue 12 paid sick days, a minimum of 12 paid vacation days, 4 paid personal days, and be afforded 14 paid state holidays, prorated based on start date.

Equal Employment and Commitment to Diversity

The Illinois Office of Comptroller provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.The Illinois Office of Comptroller is committed to the fair and equal employment of individuals with disabilities under the ADA. It is the Illinois Office of Comptroller's policy to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the company. The Illinois Office of Comptroller prohibits any harassment of, or discriminatory treatment of, employees or applicants based on a disability or because an employee has requested reasonable accommodation.

The Illinois Office of Comptroller is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the agency and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. This commitment is embodied in agency policy and organizational culture.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [e-mail]
• [e-mail]