Assistant States Attorney, Conflicts Counsel

Closing Date: 22nd September, 2025

Description:

Position Description: The Conflicts Counsel Unit (CCU) of the Cook County State's Attorney (CCSAO) is seeking an Assistant State's Attorney (ASA) to litigate a variety of civil lawsuits including, but not limited to Section 1983 Civil Rights, employment, tort, medical malpractice, complex class actions, and the Freedom of Information Act cases. Primarily, the position will involve defending Cook County, its agencies, and its employees in a variety of civil matters in both state and federal court. This is a full-time bargaining unit exempt position.

Working Environment & Reporting Structure: The ASA reports directly to the Supervisor of the CCU and is expected to work collaboratively with their fellow ASAs, CCU clients and agency representatives.

Duties/Requirements:

• ASA is expected to manage a full case load of matters in both federal and state court, as well as before Illinois state agencies, such as the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
• ASA opens new files; reviews laterally transferred files; investigates claims; obtains and reviews documents; prepares client communications; communicates with clients and witnesses; files appearances; obtains and reviews documentary evidence and records; prepares internal legal memorandum; prepares case summaries for clients; drafts, reviews and files pleadings; prepares motions, conducts written and oral discovery including depositions and expert depositions; argues in the trial court; prepares dispositive motions; prepares for and conducts settlement conferences; prepares for and tries jury trials and arbitrations in state and federal court and, if necessary, defends and prosecutes appeals.
• The ASA is also called upon to work on various special projects, often involving complex matters in various courts and divisions of the Cook County Circuit Court and the Northern District of Illinois.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Three (3) or more years of litigation experience in federal and/or state court whether at the trial or appellate level.
• Knowledge of both federal and state civil practice and procedure. Some experience dealing with complex legal issues, preferably involving constitutional issues and/or municipal law.
• Excellent judgment and discretion in matters of great importance and sensitivity.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, a solid work ethic, attention to detail, accountability, and interpersonal skills.
• Must have a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and be licensed to practice in the State of Illinois.
• Additionally, the candidate should be eligible to be admitted to the General Bar and Trial Bar of the Northern District of Illinois.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five (5) or more years of litigation experience in federal and/or state court whether at the trial or appellate level.
• Familiar with various areas of law practiced in the CCU. These areas include tort litigation; civil rights; federal and state constitutional law; class actions; labor and employment law; medical malpractice; worker's compensation and civil governmental practice;
• Substantial experience in fast-paced, high-profile litigation; and/or
• Experience drafting pleadings and briefs in state and/or federal court.
• Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Attorney General's training and guidelines to FOIA.

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.

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