Assistant Corporation Counsel I - Legal Information and Prosecutions Division

City of Chicago

$78K — $130K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school
  • Admission to the Illinois Bar
  • Good standing with the Illinois ARDC
  • Superior writing and communication skills
  • Experience in administrative proceedings or Circuit Court courtroom

Responsibilities

  • Prosecute Municipal Code violations in Cook County Circuit Court
  • Defend administrative decisions filed as appeals in Circuit Court
  • Represent the City in FOIA matters and document production
  • Conduct hearings and try cases
  • Research and write motions, memoranda, and briefs
  • Engage in settlement negotiations and recommend courses of action
  • Work closely with client departments and analyze case files

Benefits

  • Generous benefits package
  • Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness under federal program
  • Opportunity for professional growth within a city department
  • Access to professional development resources
  • Supportive working environment fostering collaboration
Full Job Description
The City of Chicago Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel ("ACC") I in the Legal Information and Prosecutions ("LIP") Division.

The Assistant Corporation Counsel I in the Legal Information and Prosecutions Division will:

  • Prosecute Chicago Municipal Code violations in Cook County Circuit Court, namely in Traffic Court and Branch Courts, and at the City's Department of Administrative Hearings.
  • Defend administrative decisions from the City's Department of Administrative Hearings filed as an administrative appeal in Circuit Court.
  • Represent the City in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters, document production, electronic discovery (e-discovery), and Local Records Act (LRA) matters.


The ACC I will work under the general supervision of the Division's Supervisors, Chief, and Deputy. Duties will include, but are not limited to, trying cases; conducting hearings; researching and writing motions, memoranda and briefs; litigating administrative appeals; arguing motions; engaging in settlement negotiations; working closely with client departments; reviewing and analyzing files in a variety of cases; and recommending appropriate courses of action.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ideal candidates will possess:

  • Superior writing, research, and editing skills;
  • Superior communication skills (written/verbal);
  • Experience in counseling and advising clients;
  • Some administrative proceeding or Circuit Court courtroom experience;
  • The ability to work well with others
  • Demonstrated use of sound judgment;
  • The ability to exhibit initiative on assigned tasks; and
  • The ability to organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines.


Qualifications

  • Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree, admission to the Illinois Bar
  • Good standing with your state Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission .


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 May 20, 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;
  • Resume
  • Law school transcript (official or unofficial);
  • One Legal writing sample/Non-law school preferred and;
  • Current printout of your attorney registration status from the Illinois ARDC website.


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: [redacted]. However, uploading documents directly to your CAREERS applicant profile is our preferred method of receipt.

NOTE:

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.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson

Mayor

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