Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor (Reversed-Conviction) - Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division

The City of Chicago's Department of Law is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor for the Reversed-Conviction Section of the Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division.

The Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division defends sworn and civilian police personnel and the City of Chicago in federal and state lawsuits concerning alleged civil rights violations or state law liability claims based on allegations of police misconduct or abuse of authority. The Reversed-Conviction Section specifically defends against those suits in which plaintiffs allege that they were wrongfully convicted. Nearly all the suits handled by the Reversed-Conviction Section are brought in federal court. This is a unique and dynamic position that will present opportunities to address some of the most significant litigation matters handled by the Department of Law. These cases are sophisticated and complex, involving extensive fact investigation, motion practice, intensive discovery, settlement negotiations, and trial practice that will require support and close supervision of trial counsel. The Supervising Assistant Corporation Counsel will be required to perform a great amount of research, writing, and editing, and assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures, in case management and reporting duties, as well as other work necessitated by the litigation of reversed-conviction cases. An Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor in this Section must have extensive experience in civil litigation in federal court and excellent research and writing skills. They will work under the supervision of the Deputy and Chief in the Reversed-Conviction Section, and supervise outside counsel through all aspects of litigation and, occasionally, will handle their own caseload and supervise Assistant Corporation Counsel litigating reversed-conviction cases.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ideal candidates will possess the following:

• Five (5) years of legal experience as a licensed attorney;
• Federal civil litigation experience, including one or more of the following areas: conducting in-depth legal research, writing and editing pleadings, motions and other court filings, taking or defending depositions, participating in evidentiary hearings, assisting in jury or bench trials, or clerking for a judge;
• Superior knowledge of the principles and practices of civil law;
• Substantive knowledge and significant prior experience in the area of federal civil litigation; though not required, experience also in criminal law is a plus;
• Superior communication skills (written/verbal)
• Excellent judgment
• One or more jury trials;
• Discovery experience, including expert discovery experience;
• Excellent writing, research and editing skills;
• Proficient in typical litigation technology and software such as Microsoft Office products and Adobe Acrobat;
• Ability to organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines;
• Exceptional supervisory skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work well with and motivate others;
• Demonstrated ability to exhibit leadership and initiative on assigned tasks; and
• Commitment to public service.

Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree, admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705), good standing with your state Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission.

Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any American law school that has passed and maintains the requirements of accreditation by the American Bar Association (www.americanbar.org).

Application Process and Materials

You must submit an on-line application by February 11, 2025:

• Cover letter that (1) includes the position title and job number as noted on the posting; and (2) specifically identifies how you meet the minimum qualifications and have the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed above; and (3) explains why you are interested in this position, including why you want to work in the Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division's reversed-conviction section.
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (official or unofficial);
• Two writing samples
• Current printout of your attorney registration status from the Illinois ARDC website at www.iardc.org (or your admitted state bar's equivalent)

Salary: $115,140-$159,324 (salary is based on a variety of factors including experience and credentials)

Click to view our generous benefits package

NOTE REGARDING PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: Working for the City of Chicago Department of Law may qualify you for loan forgiveness under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For detailed information, visit www.StudentAid.gov/publicservice or contact your federal loan servicer.

NOTE: Candidates experiencing trouble uploading the required documents to our system may e-mail the documents to: DOL.Application@cityofchicago.org. However, uploading documents directly to your CAREERS applicant profile is our preferred method of receipt.

NOTE: Please do not upload or send materials other than those specifically requested above.

NOTE: Failure to submit all materials will result in your application not being considered for the position.

NOTE: If you have questions, please contact the Department of Human Resources (312-744-4976) or DOL.Application@cityofchicago.org.

Selection Requirements

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

Evaluation

Your initial evaluation will be based on the documents submitted. Applications must be submitted by the individual applicant. No second party applications will be accepted.

NOTE: To be considered for this position you must provide information about your educational background and your work experience. You must include job titles, dates of employment, and specific job duties. (If you are a current City employee, Acting Up cannot be considered.) If you fail to provide this information at the time you submit your application, it will be incomplete, and you will not be considered for this position. There are three ways to provide the information: 1) you may attach a resume; 2) you may paste a resume; or 3) you can complete the online resume fields.

Education & Employment Verification: Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request adequate information regarding your educational and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn and you will not be hired.

Fair Chance Hiring Employer: The City of Chicago is committed to being a Fair Chance Hiring employer. We value applicants with diverse experiences, including those who have had prior contact with the criminal legal system. Having a criminal history, including prior incarceration, arrest(s), and/or conviction(s) does not automatically disqualify you from employment with the City of Chicago.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment, the City will conduct a background check. The resulting report will be used to conduct an individualized assessment to determine if the nature of any prior conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have been selected. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances.

Residency Requirement: All employees of the City of Chicago must be actual residents of the City of Chicago as outlined in 2-152-050 of the City of Chicago Municipal Code. Proof of residency will be required.

Employee Vaccination Requirement: City of Chicago employees must, as a condition of employment, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 effective October 15, 2021. This Policy applies to all City employees. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable City processes. For more information on the vaccine policy please visit: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dhr/supp_info/city-of-chicago-employee-vaccination-policy.html

Reasonable Accommodation: If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation due to disability or pregnancy in order to participate in the application process, please contact the City of Chicago, Department of Human Resources, at 312-744-4976 or disabilityaccommodations@cityofchicago.org. Please be prepared to provide information in support of your reasonable accommodation request.

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ANY AND ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer. To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson
Mayor