Criminal Division - Experienced - Assistant State's Attorney - Cook County State's Attorney's Office

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney – Experienced 6-10 years, Criminal Division

Reports to: Supervisor and Deputy Supervisors of the Criminal Division

Location: Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Chicago, IL municipal courts and surrounding suburban districts including Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview, and Markham

Bureau: Criminal Prosecution’s Bureau

Division/Unit: Felony Trial Division

Application deadline: Rolling

General Description:

The Criminal Prosecutions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney Office is seeking an experienced Assistant State’s Attorney in the Felony Trial Division.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Will be assigned to cover geographical areas (e.g., Chicago, Suburban Courthouses, etc.) in Cook County.
• Will be prosecuting under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois.
• Expected to work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials
• Able to work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating.
• Able to effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community.
• Will litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials and all functions related to the aforementioned trials
• Work with witnesses and victims to prepare for testimony
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications and Skills:

• Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Be either a member in good standing with the Illinois bar, or eligible for admission to Illinois bar on Motion (reciprocity)
• Must have 6-10 years of criminal law experience
• Must have 3-5 years of criminal trial experience
• Must understand and meet all deadlines
• Knows and understands the elements of felony offenses and evidentiary rules
• Excellent legal research and legal writing abilities
• Demonstrate the ability to articulate sound legal arguments both orally and in writing, as well as articulate the rationale for decisions made
• A solid work ethic and show attention to detail and accountability
• Ability to make appropriate charging decisions in felony matters through preliminary hearings or indictment before the Grand Jury of Cook County
• Ability to work independently as well as be part of a team, including courtroom personnel
• Managing Discovery

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• 4-6 years of criminal practice
• 3-6 years of prosecutorial practice
• 3-6 years trial experience either at the misdemeanor or felony level
• Ability to run a daily court call

Working Environment:

In this role, the Assistant State’s Attorney will be assigned to cover geographical areas (i.e. Chicago, Suburban Courthouses, etc.) in Cook County. The Assistant State’s Attorney will be prosecuting under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois. The Assistant State’s Attorney will be required to manage misdemeanor, felony and traffic caseloads. The Assistant State’s Attorney will also handle preliminary hearings, grand jury indictments, and bond hearings for felony cases. The Assistant State’s Attorney will be expected to work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials. The Assistant State’s Attorney must be able to work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating. The Assistant State’s Attorney must be able to effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community.

Physical Requirements:

Light work. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

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

Recent developments have allowed for the lifting of general orders related to COVID-19. However, if hired, candidates will need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit a request for reasonable accommodation. Selected candidates may make a request for accommodation prior to employment or any time during their initial week of hire.