Deputy General Counsel For Litigation

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 Deputy General Counsel for Litigation. The Deputy General Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor on legal actions filed on behalf of or against the Department with concentrations in employment, civil rights, torts and administrative review actions. The Deputy General Counsel provides advice, assistance and consultation on statutes, case law, administrative regulations as they pertain to any litigation issues involving the Department. The Deputy General Counsel supervises a team of attorneys and manages representation of the Department in all phases of litigation and appeal before courts and administrative tribunals.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Deputy General Counsel for Litigation.
• Manages representation of the Department in litigation and administrative or quasi-judicial hearings.
• Manages litigation risk on behalf of the Department, assessing case values, flagging recurring risk issues, and liaising with Department fiscal personnel.
• Serves as a full line supervisor; assigns and reviews work; provides guidance and training to assigned staff; counsels staff regarding work performance; reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs; establishes annual goals and objectives; approves time off; adjusts first level grievances; effectively recommends and imposes discipline, up to and including discharge; prepares and signs performance evaluations; determines and recommends staffing needs.
• Conducts complex legal research regarding full range of legal issues which impact the Department.
• Provides support to the Office of the General Counsel, in connection with external investigations, inspections, and audits of the Department related to or in anticipation of potential litigation.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires graduation from a recognized school of law.
• Requires a valid 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 experience litigating civil matters on behalf of clients before Federal and State courts or administrative tribunals.
• Four (4) years of professional experience supervising attorneys and assigning legal work.
• Four (4) years of professional experience evaluating settlement demands and advising clients on settlement.
• Four (4) years of professional experience managing or conducting discovery for civil litigation in Federal or State court.
• Four (4) years of professional experience reviewing and editing legal pleadings such as answers, briefs and motions.
• Four (4) years of professional experience advising governmental entities on litigation strategy and risk management.
• Four (4) years of professional experience meeting deadlines with strong attention to detail and the ability to utilize critical thinking skills while multi-tasking multiple projects.

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 the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• All conditions of employment listed are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.