Village Attorney

Village of Oak Park, IL; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Village of Oak Park, Illinois seeks an accomplished municipal attorney to serve as Village Attorney and lead the Law Department. The role provides chief legal advisory to the Village’s elected officials and executive leadership, while guiding an established in-house legal operation.

Reporting to the Village Manager and working with the Board of Trustees, the Village Attorney oversees litigation, prosecutions, and regulatory matters, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local law.

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of experience in municipal or related government law.
• Demonstrated leadership experience supervising attorneys and staff.
• Exceptional communicator, able to advise the Village Board, Manager, and staff.
• Ability to identify and respond to community and Village Board issues and goals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief legal advisor to the Village Manager, Village President, Board of Trustees, and village departments.
• Lead, manage, and develop the Law Department staff and priorities.
• Provide counsel on municipal matters including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, litigation, and regulatory issues.
• Draft ordinances, resolutions, agreements, and other legal documents for Village Board consideration.
• Represent the Village in litigation and other legal proceedings; safeguard Village interests.
• Advise elected officials and leadership on sensitive matters with clear, practical guidance.

Skills

Municipal/government law

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Legal counsel/advising boards

Litigation experience

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Illinois bar license

Job description

The Community

The Village of Oak Park, Illinois is seeking an accomplished municipal attorney to serve as its next Village Attorney and lead the Village's Law Department. Oak Park is a vibrant, historic, and diverse community of more than 54,000 residents bordering the west side of Chicago. Known for its distinctive urban-suburban character, architectural heritage, strong sense of community, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Oak Park offers an exceptional quality of life. As a home rule community with a broad range of complex legal matters, Oak Park offers an experienced municipal attorney the opportunity to serve as chief legal advisor to the Village's elected officials and executive leadership while leading an established in-house legal operation.

The Position

The Village Attorney serves as the chief legal advisor to the Village of Oak Park and leads the Village's Law Department. The established in-house legal team includes two Assistant Village Attorneys, a paralegal, and a Law Office Coordinator. Reporting to and working closely with the Village Manager, Village President, and Board of Trustees, the Village Attorney provides legal counsel on complex municipal matters, directs the Village's legal strategy, oversees litigation and prosecution, and ensures the Village's operations and policies comply with applicable federal, state, and local law. The Village Attorney also leads and develops Law Department staff, manages departmental resources and outside legal services, and works collaboratively with Village departments, elected officials, boards and commissions, and outside agencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as chief legal advisor to the Village Manager, Village President, Board of Trustees, Village departments, and assigned boards and commissions.
• Lead, manage, and develop the Law Department, including professional and support staff, departmental priorities, workload, budget, and service delivery.
• Provide counsel on a broad range of municipal matters, including ordinances, resolutions, contracts and agreements, litigation, prosecution, regulatory matters, and other complex legal issues.
• Coordinate and draft ordinances, resolutions, agreements, and other legal documents for consideration by the Village Board.
• Represent and protect the Village’s interests in litigation and other legal proceedings, and provide legal counsel on complex and sensitive matters.
• Advise elected officials and Village leadership on sensitive, complex, and sometimes controversial matters while providing clear, practical, and legally sound guidance.

Experience

• Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in municipal or related government law, including trial experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including experience supervising attorneys and professional staff, establishing priorities, developing staff, managing competing demands, and providing sound legal counsel in a complex public-sector environment.
• Must be an exceptional communicator, able to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing and to advise the Village Board, Village Manager, and staff on complex and sensitive matters.
• Must be able to identify and respond to community and Village Board issues, concerns, and needs, and to utilize the legal system to support Village goals and objectives.

Education, Licensing and Certification

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school is required.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois is required.