Description:
The City of Chicago Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel to oversee the Collections, Bankruptcy, and Liens Units of the Collections, Ownership and Administrative Litigation (“COAL”) Division. COAL is responsible for collecting debts due and owing to the City; acquiring properties through lien foreclosures; determining property owners and responsible parties in preparing for litigation; and bankruptcy matters involving the City. Under the general supervision of the division Deputy, the Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel manages Assistant Corporation Counsels and Supervisors assigned to collections, liens and acquisitions, and bankruptcy matters. The Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel provides professional legal work in a wide variety of cases, oversees outside law firms; assesses staff workload and coordinates incoming cases; supervises and counsels attorneys engaged in the practice of law; recommends litigation and negotiation strategies; prepares and reviews legal documents for accuracy, completeness and compliance with the law; prepares productivity reports of division work activities and the status of pending matters; develops work standards and evaluates job performance of attorneys and staff; participates in the planning and preparation of the division's annual budget; communicates with alderpeople and City departments; creates policies and procedures to address the needs of City departments served by the Division, including but not limited to the Department of Finance, the Department of Water Management, the Department of Buildings and the Department of Streets and Sanitation; and undertakes other duties as directed by the deputy of the Division.Qualifications:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ideal candidates will possess the following:
- Five (5) years of litigation experience in state and federal court,
- Ability to supervise attorneys and staff and oversee projects, including skill in analysis, evaluation, decision-making, delegation, and follow-up,
- Extremely strong writing, research and editing skills,
- Strong analytical reasoning, negotiation, legal research, and oral and written communication skills,
- Exceptional client counseling skills,
- Ability to organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines,
- Ability to work well with others,
- Ability to work under short deadlines,
- Demonstrated leadership ability and initiative on assigned tasks.
Preference may be given to candidates possessing the following:
- Significant experience in collections, bankruptcy, foreclosures, and mechanics liens,
- Experience in a supervisory or management role,
- Judicial clerkship experience,
- Strong academic background,
- Experience in project management.
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).
