Assistant Corporation Counsel I - Building and License Enforcement Division

The City of Chicago Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel I in the BLE Division to represent the City in Municipal Code enforcement cases related to the public's health and safety, including building code, police, and licensing matters.

The Assistant Corporation Counsel will work under the general supervision of the Deputy Corporation Counsel of the BLE Division and will handle litigation in state court. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will also be responsible for evaluating cases, drafting pleadings and motions, propounding and answering discovery, engaging in legal research, negotiating settlements, presenting oral arguments and evidentiary hearings, conducting trials, and counseling law clerks on such tasks. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will also communicate with City Departments, community groups, and Aldermanic offices; review proposed ordinances and legislation; respond to subpoenas; oversee special projects and initiatives; and counsel law clerks on such tasks. The substantive areas of law will include, among others, buildings, zoning, licensing, and other related real estate and property matters. This position requires initiative, flexibility, time management, and the ability to think and respond to urgent situations.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

Ideal candidates will possess the following:

• demonstrated academic achievement;
• strong research and writing skills;
• excellent analytical skills;
• excellent negotiation and communication skills, including the ability to take the initiative on assigned tasks and work well with others;
• the ability to respond quickly in emergency situations and organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines.

Preference may be given to candidates possessing the following:

• previous municipal law and/or prosecutorial work experience;
• experience handling litigation in state court and/or administrative proceedings;
• experience drafting or responding to pleadings, motions, and discovery.

Qualifications

• 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.
  
  
  
  • Or, if applicable, intent to take the bar exam to obtain required Illinois Licensure indicated in cover letter.
  
  
  
  

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 March 5, 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 below;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (official or unofficial);
• One writing sample; and
• Current printout of your attorney registration status from the Illinois ARDC website at www.iardc.org (or your admitted state bar's equivalent), if applicable or a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school and intent to take the bar exam to obtain required IL Licensure indicated in cover letter or your admitted state bar's equivalent) or, if applicable, Illinois bar exam qualification material including date of upcoming exam registration.)

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.

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