SPECIAL ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL

State-of-Illinois; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 116,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension program

Flexible work schedules

Paid holidays

Job summary

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services seeks a Special Assistant General Counsel to provide organized, professional legal counsel across agency operations. The role emphasizes leadership, compliance with statutes, and effective communication with diverse stakeholders to support children and families in Illinois.

The ideal candidate will be a licensed attorney with strong organizational abilities and the capacity to supervise complex legal matters, including licensing, adoptions,

Qualifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited law school and valid Illinois license to practice law.
• Three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law.

Responsibilities

• Provides legal advice and counsel to the agency’s central office management and professional staff.
• Provides advice and counsel to staff regarding licensing rules, statutes, and procedures.
• Provides legal advice on adoptions, guardianship, permanency goals, and other initiatives.
• Represents the Department in administrative hearings and licensing appeals.
• Coordinates with the Attorney General’s Office on state-level appellate cases.

Skills

Legal counsel

Organizational skills

Leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

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We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents Additional Documents section for each application.

Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant’s wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant’s wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Job Requisition ID:58540
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date:10/06/2026
Agency:Department of Children and Family Services
Class Title:PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - 37015Skill Option:Special License - Illinois Law License
Bilingual Option:None
Salary:Anticipated Starting Salary $10,350 - $11,600/month
Job Type:Salaried
Category:Full Time
County:Cook
Number of Vacancies:1
Bargaining Unit Code:None
Merit Comp Code:Managerial Exclusion from RC010 Collective Bargaining Coverage

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.

Position Overview:

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Special Assistant General Counsel. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong leadership and communication capabilities. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Essential Functions:

• Provides legal advice and counsel to the agency’s central office management and professional staff
• Provides advice and counsel to staff of the Division of Licensing regarding any and all questions on licensingrules, statutes, and procedures
• Provides legal advice and counsel to program staff concerning any and all questions on adoptions, guardianship, permanency goals, and other initiatives
• Provides legal counsel to professional staff concerning any and all questions on adoptions and permanencyissues in developing case presentation and interpreting court orders, statutes, and regulations
• Serves as a liaison and provides coordination with the Attorney General’s Office regarding state level appellatecases involving the Department
• Represents the Department in administrative hearings and licensing appeals which involve some adversedecision of actions regarding a DCFS license, such as revocation, placement hold, non-renewal, license denial, etc.
• Reviews drafts and coordinates with staff the finalization of Department Intergovernmental Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumeratedabove

Minimum Qualifications:

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1 year of experience providing legal counsel regarding legislation, administrative rules, and procedures to a governmentalentity
• 3 years of professional experience as an attorney conducting legal analysis and legal research
• 1 year of professional experience as an attorney addressing licensing/regulatory violations and enforcement matters
• 1 year of professional experience as an attorney presenting and arguing legal cases in court or administrative hearings
• 3 years of professional experience as an attorney working in collaboration with various internal and external entities

Conditions of Employment:

• Requires the ability to pass a background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
• 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:

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus. The Office of Legal Services works in a supportive capacity to ensure Departmental adherence to all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and court orders.

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
  • Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• GI Bill Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions

[e-mail] (for questions only)

Posting Group:Legal, Audit & Compliance

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.

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:

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.