Assistant General Counsel, Labor and Employee Discipline

Chicago Public Schools•Chicago, IL

68d•Onsite

About The Position

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing nearly 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. The CPS Law Department provides a full array of legal services to the Chicago Board of Education and the various departments and divisions of Chicago Public Schools. Job Summary: Reporting directly to the Deputy General Counsel and dotted line reporting to the Assistant Deputy General Counsel, Labor and Employee Discipline will work to handle traditional labor law matters and appeals involving unfair labor practice charges and arbitration demands filed by labor organizations. Additionally, the Assistant General Counsel will assist in the prosecuting of employee discipline matters before administrative agencies and the Illinois State Board of Education. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school is required
Licensed to practice law and in good standing in the State of Illinois is required
Minimum of one (1) year post-JD legal experience, inclusive of internships, externships and/or clerkships, including the following is required:
Experience with negotiating and informally resolving complex cases
Ability to litigate complex cases effectively before arbitrators, hearing officers, administrative agencies, and courts
Knowledge of best practices in employment and labor law, administrative law, and federal and state-related law areas
Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively with officers, senior leaders, department managers, and school-based staff
Ability to work in teams and independently, make effective decisions, and collaborate with clients
Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to draft complex legal documents, deliver persuasive arguments, and translate intricate legal concepts for non-legal stakeholders
Advanced organizational and case-management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize competing deadlines and oversee multiple complex legal matters simultaneously
Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, assess issues, and provide sound legal advice

Nice To Haves

Experience in labor, labor relations, employment, and/or administrative law strongly is preferred
Experience litigating cases in courts or in an administrative setting is strongly preferred
Experience drafting substantive motions and briefs is strongly preferred
Experience with oral and written client counseling and interviewing various types of witnesses is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Work up and litigate grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, employee discipline administrative hearings, and other labor relations matters
Work closely with CPS clients to ensure that labor and employee discipline cases are properly addressed and litigated
Review the legality of employee relations strategies and policies utilizing a keen knowledge of federal and state statutory and case law in employment and labor areas, as well as all areas that may impact the District
Defend the Board in labor arbitrations against various labor unions
Defend the Board in unfair labor practice proceedings in front of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, and represent the Board in termination proceedings in front of the Illinois State Board of Education and the CPS Office of Administrative Hearings
On a daily basis, advise various internal CPS clients and school principals on labor and employee relations cases
Other duties as assigned