Civil Actions Bureau - Assistant State's Attorney - Cook County State's Attorney's Office

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney, Advice

Reports to: Supervisor of the relevant section

Classification: Full-Time

Location: Daley Center

Bureau: Civil Actions Bureau

Division/Unit: Various

General Description: The Civil Actions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is seeking experienced civil litigation attorneys to one of our various practice areas as an Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA). We represent Cook County officials and employees in a wide array of litigation matters. All of our practice groups are highly collegial and collaborative. Learning opportunities abound! You will handle your own matters, but never without the training and support you need to be successful. The Civil Actions Bureau is a great place both for experts in their substantive area of practice and those who are just beginning to develop a specific litigation skillset.

Duties/Responsibilities:

ASAs represent Cook County officials and employees in any kind of action that they might file or that might be filed against them in their official capacity. Our practice areas include: civil rights and torts claims defense, labor & employment, constitutional claims, medical malpractice defense, representation of the Cook County Treasurer in real estate tax matters, representation of the Illinois Department of Human Services in child support litigation, revenue recovery efforts, government law (including FOIA and FOID litigation and defense of County ordinances), workers’ compensation litigation, and advisory opinions.

If you have experience in one or more of these areas, please apply today!

Minimum Qualifications:

Each section has its own minimum qualifications. Please select the section(s) for which you are applying in the application itself. Sections are:

• Affirmative & Complex Litigation
• Advice, Transactions, & Litigation
• Child Support Enforcement
• Civil Rights & Torts Litigation
• Labor & Employment Litigation
• Medical Litigation
• Municipal Litigation
• Real Estate Tax Litigation
• Workers' Compensation Litigation

All sections require:

• A Juris Doctor degree, with a license to practice in the State of Illinois.

• Minimum 1 year of civil litigation practice (although some sections require more years of practice and/or more years of experience in one of the substantive areas of the law in which we practice).
• The applicant must be a highly organized self-starter who is capable of working individually or in a team and has strong writing, research, oral advocacy, and organizational skills for managing a varied and high-volume government practice.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant litigation experience in the areas of law and forums in which we practice.
• Institutional knowledge of one or more parts of Cook County government.
• Experience representing government clients on behalf of the Cook County State’s Attorney and/or a similar government agency.
• Experience with evidentiary hearings and preliminary injunctions.
• Experience working on appeals.
• Achievements demonstrating creative thinking and legal analysis.

Working Environment: An Assistant State’s Attorney in the Civil Actions Bureau typically handles their case load independently, but with lots of training and support, and a wealth of opportunities for collaboration. This is a fun place to work! We work hard but also put significant emphasis on work-life balance.

Physical Requirements:

Sedentary Work: This role primarily involves sitting, with occasional walking and standing for brief periods. Tasks may include exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Activities that require moving objects are infrequent and minimal.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO), we champion diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusivity! We are passionately committed to building a team that represents a wealth of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Our strength lies in our diversity, and we actively seek, develop, and cherish talent from all walks of life.

We're proud to say that we stand firmly against discrimination of any kind—whether it's based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. At CCSAO, everyone is welcome.

And, we're not just about saying it—we're about living it! If you’re a qualified individual who requires reasonable accommodation based on religion, disability, or pregnancy, please let us know. At CCSAO, we’re all about empowering our team to shine.

Benefits

At Cook County, we believe in investing in you, our valued employee. We understand that your well-being directly impacts the quality of service we provide to our community. That's why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial stability, and work-life balance. Here's a snapshot of what we offer:

Choose from a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans to best suit your lifestyle and needs. We provide a robust Paid Time Off (PTO) program, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, as well as 13 paid holidays. As a public service employer, our employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Our Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling and referral services to help you navigate life's challenges. And of course, a pension plan through Cook County.

Follow this link to the Cook County Benefits and this link to Cook County Pension Fund if you want to learn more about our amazing benefit coverage. The CCSAO does not provide relocation assistance.

Covid

Please note that as a condition of employment all newly hired SAO employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the start of employment or submit a request for reasonable accommodation prior to onboarding. Fully vaccinated here means first two initial shots. Those granted reasonable accommodation will need to do at home testing and report positive results to Human Resources.