Assistant General Counsel, Federal Litigation

Chicago Public Schools•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Litigation Unit of the Board of Education’s Law Department represents the Board, and its employees, in civil suits filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County and in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The Litigation Unit also handles administrative matters and provides client counseling. Under direct supervision of the Deputy and Assistant Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel, Federal Litigation represents CPS and its agents in litigation pending primarily in the Northern District of Illinois, as well as administrative forums (e.g., EEOC, IDHR, and HRC). The Assistant General Counsel works with the Senior Assistant General Counsels and other Assistant General Counsels on the Federal Litigation team and has the opportunity to provide meaningful counsel to CPS leadership, informing policy decisions and resource allocation. Matters include employment related claims (e.g., Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA), civil rights claims brought under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983, substantive and procedural due process, and Title IX. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school, required.
Must be licensed to practice law and in good standing in the State of Illinois.
Minimum of one (1) year legal experience, inclusive of internships, externships and/or clerkships, two (2) years preferred
Experience in employment law and/or civil rights law strongly preferred
Experience litigating employment related and civil rights claims in federal court
Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - listening, and writing)
Ability to define and analyze problems quickly, prioritize the level of importance, create valid conclusions and action steps, and determine when higher level intervention is necessary
Capable of building trusting relationships and functioning effectively with Board agents, whose decisions are being challenged in court
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage numerous cases simultaneously under pressure and with limited supervision
Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, to expeditiously assess issues, and provide sound legal advice to a wide-variety of client-types, including senior leadership, school administrators and staff, and Central office employees.
Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.

Nice To Haves

Admission to the U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois is preferred

Responsibilities

Manage active litigation caseload and serve as counsel on cases in which the Board and/or employees are named defendants
Collaborate with Senior Assistant General Counsel, fellow Assistant General Counsels, and support staff on litigation strategy and overall case management
Provide client counseling, advice, guidance and support across a network of schools and departments
Review and edit written work product
Analyze case value and make recommendations on case resolutions