Litigator

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Flexible spending benefits

Vacation and sick days

Job summary

Illinois Policy Institute seeks an experienced litigator to advocate for the constitutional and statutory rights of Illinois residents. The founding attorney will build a multi-year, disciplined litigation docket to advance free-market principles and government accountability.

The role emphasizes first-chair litigation, strategic case development, and collaboration with leadership in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment in Chicago. Hybrid work policy applies.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of three years of litigation experience, including first-chair experience in evidentiary hearings, depositions and preferably some trial or appellate experience.
• Licensed to practice in Illinois.
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills.
• Capacity to handle multiple cases simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Alignment with the institute’s priorities and mission.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop cases, including researching laws and legal issues, and speaking with Illinoisans to advance cases that promote the institute’s mission.
• Litigate cases that further Illinoisans’ economic liberty and property rights, including drafting complaints, motions, discovery, depositions, and oral arguments.
• Participate in media interviews, panels and events, and draft op-eds related to legal issues in Illinois.
• Collaborate with institute leadership and colleagues to advance overlapping priorities.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Written advocacy

Multitasking

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

The Illinois Policy Institute is launching a new effort to pursue strategic, high-impact cases that advance free-market principles, protect taxpayers, and enforce transparency and accountability in Illinois government. This is a founding attorney role in a multi-year program to build a disciplined litigation docket.

We are seeking an experienced litigator to further the institute’s goals by advocating for the constitutional and statutory rights of Illinois residents. This includes strategic litigation that advances the principles of free enterprise and government accountability.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about the institute’s values and public-interest litigation. The attorney will litigate a wide range of cases, including under the Illinois state constitution, Freedom of Information Act, Open Meetings Act, Whistleblower Act and other related laws to protect individual rights, advance constitutionally limited government and support the Illinois Policy Institute’s investigations and research concerning government overreach, abuse of property rights and misuse of public funds.

Applicants should thrive in an entrepreneurial, creative, and fast-paced environment and have a clear commitment to free-market principles.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop cases, including researching laws and legal issues, and speaking with Illinoisans to advance cases that promote the institute’s mission.
• Litigate cases that further Illinoisans’ economic liberty and property rights. This includes drafting complaints and motions, drafting and responding to written discovery, taking and defending depositions, and presenting oral arguments.
• Participate in media interviews, panels and events, and draft op-eds or articles related to legal issues in Illinois.
• Collaborate with institute leadership and colleagues to advance overlapping priorities.

Qualifications and requirements

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• A minimum of three years of litigation experience, including first-chair experience in evidentiary hearings, depositions and preferably some trial or appellate experience.
• License to practice in Illinois.
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills.
• Capacity to handle multiple cases simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Alignment with the institute’s priorities and mission, coupled with a strong desire to contribute to and grow the institute’s initiatives.

Compensation

Range of $90,000 to $145,000 base salary, commensurate with experience. Opportunity for performance-based bonuses on top of base salary. Compensation package includes health (medical and dental plans with employer-paid share), 401(k), flexible spending benefits and vacation and sick days.

Location

The Litigator will work in our Chicago office. Illinois Policy Institute has a hybrid work policy where employees can work from home up to two days each week. The Litigator will travel as necessary.