Assistant Corporation Counsel III - Constitutional & Commercial Litigation Division - City of Chicago

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Assistant Corporation Counsel III, Constitutional & Commercial Litigation Division

The City’s Department of Law is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel III (“ACC”) in its Constitutional & Commercial Litigation Division. 

The Constitutional and Commercial Litigation Division represents the City and City officials in a broad range of constitutional and commercial matters in both federal and state courts, specializing in cases raising complex, novel, or high-profile legal issues. Attorneys in the Division litigate constitutional challenges to the City’s ordinances and policies, such as First Amendment speech and religion challenges to the regulations governing Millennium Park, Second Amendment claims against City gun control measures, Commerce Clause challenges to City business regulations, and due process and equal protection claims against City laws governing the sharing economy.  The Division also defends City policies and ordinances in suits bringing challenges under federal and state statutes, including cases asserting preemption under federal or state law. In addition, attorneys in the Division defend City zoning and land development decisions, such as authorization of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, and ordinances fostering affordable housing.  Commercial matters handled by the Division span many legal and factual areas, including construction, government procurement, and contracts.  Most of the Division’s cases involve working directly with the City departments and officials who devise or implement the policies and ordinances defended by the Division, and the Division routinely provides advice and counseling to City departments and officials concerning policy development. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will work on a broad range of issues under the general supervision of the Division’s Deputy and Chief.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ideal candidates will possess the following:

• At least one (1) year of litigation experience in state or federal court in one or more of the following areas: drafting substantive motions, arguing substantive motions in court, assisting in jury or bench trials, taking or defending depositions, or clerking for a state or federal court judge;
•     Superior academic achievement as shown by measures such as grade point average, class rank, honors, or participation in at least one of the following activities in law school: law review, law journal, moot court, or judicial externship or internship;
•    Ability to research and analyze complex issues;
•    Ability to persuasively articulate factual and legal arguments both in writing and orally;
•    Experience negotiating settlements or drafting settlement agreements;
•      Ability to take initiative and assume responsibility for assigned tasks;
•    Ability to organize and prioritize workflow to meet deadlines;
•    Ability to work well with colleagues and supervisors;
•    Ability to work well with client department representatives; and
•    Commitment to public service. 

Application Process and Materials 

You must submit an on-line application by June 27, 2024:

• 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).

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

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.

Qualifications

Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school and admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705).

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

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 REGARDING REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: Please do not submitreferences with your hard copy materials, but theycanbe provided through the online system. Please do not send to us any materials other than those we have specifically requested above. Submission of references and/oradditionalmaterials other than what is specifically requested above shall result in your application not being considered for the position. 

NOTE REGARDING QUESTIONS:  If you have any questions regardinghow to apply, please contact the Department of Human Resources. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in the City of Chicago Department of Law. 

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE. 

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 youfail toprovide this information at the time yousubmityour application, it will beincomplete,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 ifyou are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request, adequate informationregardingyour 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. 

Selection Requirements  

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

Evaluation: Your initialevaluation will be based on the documentssubmitted. Applications must besubmittedby the individual applicant. No second party applications will be accepted. 

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 berequired. 

If you would like to request reasonable accommodation due to disability or pregnancy in order toparticipatein the application process, please contact the City of Chicago, Department of Human Resources, at 312-744-4976 (voice) or 312-744-5035 (TTY). Please be prepared to provide information in support of your reasonable accommodation request.  

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. 

City ofChicago 

        Brandon Johnson        
Mayor 

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