Village Attorney

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 167,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IMRF

Deferred compensation program

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

Village of Oak Park seeks an accomplished Village Attorney to serve as chief legal advisor and lead the Law Department, reporting to the Village Manager and collaborating with the Mayor, Board of Trustees, and departments.

The role includes directing litigation, policy compliance, staffing, and outside services to support the Village’s goals in a diverse, home-rule community.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Illinois.
• Seven years of municipal or related government law experience with trial exposure.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief legal advisor to the Village Manager, Village President, Board of Trustees, and village departments.
• Lead, manage, and develop the Law Department, supervising staff and budgeting.
• Provide counsel on ordinances, contracts, litigation, regulatory matters, and complex issues.
• Draft ordinances, resolutions, agreements, and other legal documents for Village Board consideration.
• Represent the Village in litigation and advise leadership on sensitive matters.

Skills

Municipal law

Leadership

Communication

Public sector

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Illinois 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.

Qualifications

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.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $167,375 – $242,668 DOQ/E

• IMRF
• Deferred compensation program
• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

The position will remain open until filled. First review of resumes: September 23, 2026.

The Village of Oak Park is working with LocalGov Staffing Solutions, LLC to fill this important role. For questions regarding the position or process, please contact: Laurie Pederson, President: [e-mail]

The Village of Oak Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer.