Closing Date: 16th November, 2026
Description:
Position Overview:The Office of General Counsel is seeking to hire a self-motivated, organized, and detailed-oriented individual with a license to practice law in Illinois to serve as the Deputy General Counsel for its Division of Labor and Employment. The Deputy General Counsel will report to the Chief Deputy General Counsel for Operations and is responsible for providing timely and accurate legal advice and counsel on a wide range of legal issues to Department of Human Services (DHS) staff, on issues including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, accommodations, leaves of absence, employee discipline, hiring, and immigration.
Essential Functions:
- Serves as Deputy General Counsel for Labor & Employment for the Department of Human Services.
- Serves as a full line supervisor.
- Provides substantial input into the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to labor relations, employment law, and personnel matters.
- Provides advisory functions to management on labor relations/personnel issues.
- Serves as staff attorney to the Offices of Human Resources and Labor Relations.
- Assists the General Counsel and Chief Deputy General Counsel in the overall functioning of the Office of General Counsel within the Department of Human Services.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Requires a law degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school.
- Requires possession of a license to practice law in Illinois.
- Requires four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Four (4) years of professional legal experience litigating employment matters in federal or state courts, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Illinois Civil Service Commission, or the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.
- Four (4) years of professional legal experience providing legal advice to management on labor, employment, employee benefits, and immigration matters.
- Four (4) years of professional legal experience litigating or advising clients on employee accommodations related to disability, pregnancy, religion, or for victims of violent crimes.
- Four (4) years of professional legal experience, litigating or advising clients on the Family and Medical Leave Act, military leaves, or other leaves of absence.
- Four (4) years of professional legal experience litigating or advising clients on matters related to employee discipline, including terminations.
- Three (3) years of professional legal experience litigating or advising clients on compliance with personnel regulations in a merit system.
- Two (2) years of professional experience as a licensed attorney drafting and reviewing employee handbooks and internal labor, personnel, and benefits policies for employers.
- One (1) year of professional experience as a licensed attorney providing legal advice to management for an employer on immigration matters or I-9 compliance.
Conditions of Employment:
- Requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to travel in the performance of job duties.
- Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
- This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file a Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
- Requires the ability to work overtime.