Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor - Special Federal Litigation Division

City of Chicago

$118K — $164K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7 years of legal experience as a licensed attorney
  • Knowledge of municipal defense litigation and Section 1983 claims
  • Experience in federal and state civil litigation
  • At least 3 jury trials, with preference for first chair trial experience
  • Proficiency in deposition and discovery processes
  • Exceptional writing, research, and editing skills
  • Strong supervisory skills for coaching and mentoring staff

Responsibilities

  • Direct and supervise attorneys in the Special Federal Litigation Division
  • Defend police personnel and the City of Chicago in lawsuits
  • Handle and litigate high-exposure cases
  • Oversee all phases of assigned cases from trial to appeal
  • Act as a trial partner when needed
  • Engage in settlement negotiations and intensive discovery
  • Ensure adherence to workflow deadlines and monitor case progress

Benefits

  • Access to a generous benefits package
  • Eligibility for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Supportive work environment fostering diverse experiences
  • Opportunity for professional development and growth
  • Potential for leadership and direct impact on community policing issues
Full Job Description
The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor directs attorneys in the Special Federal Litigation Division. The Division defends sworn and civilian police personnel and the City of Chicago in federal and state lawsuits. These lawsuits concern alleged civil rights violations or state law liability claims based on allegations of police misconduct or abuse of authority. Special Federal Litigation Division attorneys practice in both federal court and in the Circuit Court of Cook County. They have a sophisticated and complex practice involving extensive motion practice, intensive discovery, settlement negotiations, and trial practice. The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor, working under the general supervision of the Division Chief and Deputy, handles and litigates higher exposure cases. In addition, the Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor has supervisory responsibilities of Assistant Corporation Counsel over all phases of their assigned cases throughout trial and post-trial motions, up to the appeal stage. The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor will also act as a trial partner as needed by the Special Federal Litigation Division.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ideal candidates will possess the following:

  • Seven (7) years of legal experience as a licensed attorney;
  • Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil law, particularly municipal defense litigation, Section 1983 claims and intentional tort claims;
  • Substantive knowledge and prior experience in the areas of federal and state civil litigation;
  • Three or more jury trials, at least one as first chair preferred;
  • Deposition experience;
  • Discovery experience, including expert discovery experience;
  • Superior writing, research and editing skills;
  • Ability to organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines;
  • Exceptional client counseling skills;
  • Exceptional supervisory skills, including coaching, counseling and training attorneys and staff;
  • Demonstrated ability to work well with and motivate others; and
  • Demonstrated ability to exhibit leadership and initiative on assigned tasks.


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


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 June 10, 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);
  • Two (2) Writing Samples (merge the writing samples prior to uploading)
  • Current printout of your attorney registration status from the Illinois ARDC website at www.iardc.org (or your admitted state bar's equivalent).


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: $118,596.00 - 164,100.00 (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: 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: If you have questions, please contact the Department of Human Resources [redacted]) or [redacted].

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 ofChicago

Brandon Johnson

Mayor

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