at Department of Children and Family Services in Champaign, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Position Overview
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results-oriented individual to serve as Senior Regional Counsel. Under administrative direction, the position will represent the Department at all hearings on calendars in the juvenile courts of assigned counties, including temporary custody, adjudication, disposition, permanency, status, progress, termination of parental rights, and motion hearings. Additionally, the position will evaluate, prepare, and present evidence on behalf of the Department in court and at administrative hearings and service appeals. This position is a great opportunity for anyone who would like to use their skills as an attorney to benefit child welfare services. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent legal and organizational skills and strong leadership capabilities. We invite all qualified applicants to apply to join our innovative team to help make a difference in the lives of children and families.
Job Responsibilities1. Serves as Senior Regional Counsel
2. Interviews Department witnesses
3. Evaluates cases involving clients where the Department is involved in court or seeking expunction or indication
4. Serves as legal advisor to the Regional Administrator
5. Plans, directs, and conducts technical legal screening and provides case consultation to caseworkers and supervisors to help prepare cases for termination of parental rights (TPR), to determine when cases are trial ready for TPR, and to provide case consideration for case plan writing in all offices throughout the region
6. Serves as Department liaison to judiciary, State’s Attorney’s Offices, and various court personnel in numerous counties in the region
7. Serves as local Department liaison to the Attorney General’s Office in cases in which the Department is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and represents the Department when the Attorney General’s Office auth
