Assistant Corporation Counsel III - Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division, Reversed-Conviction Se

at City of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Description:

The City of Chicago’s Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel III (ACC) for the Reversed-Conviction Section in the Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division. The Division defends alleged civil rights violations or state law liability claims based on allegations of police misconduct or abuse of authority in both federal and state courts. The Reversed-Conviction Section is responsible for cases in which plaintiffs bring federal and state law claims alleging police misconduct resulted in their wrongful conviction. An ACC in this section must have 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. This ACC will assist outside counsel in all aspects of civil rights litigation, pleadings through trial. Most of these cases are complex and require intensive discovery and motion practice that will require the ACC’s assistance. This ACC will assist in reporting and data collection and monitoring trials and other court proceedings. This ACC position will involve a great amount of research, writing, editing, and developing litigation strategy. This ACC may also have occasional opportunities to assist in in-house litigation and represent clients directly.

Qualifications:

Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree 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 ).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ideal candidates will possess:

+ Litigation experience in one or more of the following areas: drafting pleadings and other court documents, drafting substantive motions, arguing substantive motions taking or defending depositions, handling evidentiary hearings, assisting in jury or bench trials, or clerking for a state or federal court judge;

+ Superior writing, research, and editing skills;

+ Superior communication skills (written/verbal);

+ Experience counseling and advising clients;

+ Exceptional organizational skills;

+ The ability to work well with others;

+ The ability to exhibit initiative on assigned tasks; and

+ The ability to organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines.

+ Commitment to public service.

Application Process and Materials

You must submit an on-line application along with your resume here on this site by the post-extension date August 29 , 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

+ Current printout of your attorney registration status from the Illinois ARDC website

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.

Click to view our generous benefits package (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dol/supp\info/attorney\vacancies.html#:~:text=Salary and Benefits,Retirement Pension Fund)

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 submit references with your hard copy materials, but they can be 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/or additional materials 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 regarding how 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 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.

Commitment to Diversity: 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. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications to be referred to departments for consideration.

S election 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.

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 prepar