The City of Chicago Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel I in the BLE Division to represent the City in Municipal Code enforcement cases related to the public's health and safety, including building code, police, and licensing matters.

The Assistant Corporation Counsel will work under the general supervision of the Deputy Corporation Counsel of the BLE Division and will handle litigation in state court. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will also be responsible for evaluating cases, drafting pleadings and motions, propounding and answering discovery, engaging in legal research, negotiating settlements, presenting oral arguments and evidentiary hearings, conducting trials, and counseling law clerks on such tasks. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will also communicate with City Departments, community groups, and Aldermanic offices; review proposed ordinances and legislation; respond to subpoenas; oversee special projects and initiatives; and counsel law clerks on such tasks. The substantive areas of law will include, among others, buildings, zoning, licensing, and other related real estate and property matters. This position requires initiative, flexibility, time management, and the ability to think and respond to urgent situations.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

Ideal candidates will possess the following:

• demonstrated academic achievement;
• strong research and writing skills;
• excellent analytical skills;
• excellent negotiation and communication skills, including the ability to take the initiative on assigned tasks and work well with others;
• the ability to respond quickly in emergency situations and organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines.

Preference may be given to candidates possessing the following:

• previous municipal law and/or prosecutorial work experience;
• experience handling litigation in state court and/or administrative proceedings;
• experience drafting or responding to pleadings, motions, and discovery.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree
• Admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705), good standing with your state Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission.
  
  • Or, if applicable, intent to take the bar exam to obtain required Illinois Licensure indicated in cover letter.

Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any American law school that has passed and maintains the requirements of accreditation by the American Bar Association ( www.americanbar.org ).

Mandatory Submission Terms

You must submit an online application by July 8, 2026 including the items listed below:

• 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;
  
  • if applicable, intent to take the bar exam to obtain required Illinois Licensure indicated in cover letter
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (official or unofficial);
• One writing sample; and
• Current printout of your attorney registration status from the Illinois ARDC website (or your admitted state bar's equivalent including your state Public Record of Discipline and Pending Proceedings)
  
  • or, if applicable, Illinois bar exam qualification material including date of upcoming exam registration.

NOTE: Please do not upload or send materials other than those specifically requested above.

NOTE: Failure to submit all materials will result in your application not being considered for the position.

Salary:$78,108.00 - 130,128.00 (salary is based on a variety of factors including experience and credentials)

Click to view our generous benefits package

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

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: Application technical issues may be solved through the use of Google Chrome as a browser.

NOTE: Candidates experiencing trouble uploading the required documents to our system may e-mail the documents to: [email protected]. However, uploading documents directly to your CAREERS applicant profile is our preferred method of receipt.

NOTE: If you have questions, please contact the Department of Human Resources (312-744-4976) or [email protected].

Selection 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.

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.

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ANY AND ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.