Legal Counsel
About The Position
Under supervision of the General Counsel, the Legal Counsel is an in-house position that assists and partners with the Office of Legal Counsel in providing the System with legal advice and counsel, research, and written work product to support the administration of TRS operations, planning, and decision making. In this role, Legal Counsel performs detailed research concerning Illinois statutory interpretation and legal compliance, analyzes complex issues involving member benefits, drafts legal memoranda, correspondence, administrative rules, publications and policies, and other documents on a broad range of complex topics, and provides counsel on sophisticated contract and procurement matters. Legal Counsel operates as a member of a dynamic, collaborative legal team, responding to legal requests from staff, while also proactively identifying legal vulnerabilities and offering pragmatic guidance on risk mitigation and management to TRS business stakeholders. The position requires exercise of careful judgment, discretion, and strict confidentiality, handling all matters with appropriate decorum and the highest ethical standards befitting the legal profession and the fiduciary duty owed to the System. Legal Counsel must possess strong legal research and writing capabilities and a keen ability to understand and explain complex and nuanced issues both verbally and in writing. The role requires careful attention to details and timelines and the ability to manage multiple assignments. While legal acumen is essential, Legal Counsel must also demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with others in a professional office setting in a respectful and collegial manner.
Requirements
- Must be a graduate of and hold a JD degree from an accredited law school
- Must be a licensed attorney in good standing in the State of Illinois or obtain such license
- 5-7 years’ experience working as a licensed attorney in a law firm, corporate legal department, or governmental agency
Nice To Haves
- Previous experience in one or more of the following areas is strongly preferred: Public/governmental retirement plans, tax-qualified defined benefit plans and 457(b) deferred compensation plans, contract review and procurement and information security and privacy
Responsibilities
- Provide legal review, analysis and advice regarding the administration of the System, including matters concerning member benefits, employer plan participation and reporting, and statutory interpretation, and matters relating to the System’s procurement and contracts with a variety of vendor types, such as software licensing agreements and related contracts
- Advise the System regarding matters concerning the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Open Meetings Act and the Illinois Pension Code provisions governing TRS benefits and Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Orders
- Maintain familiarity with the Pension Code and other applicable law, administrative rules, and TRS policies and procedures and recommend revisions to align with best practices to protect System interests
- Interact with business stakeholders and external parties as appropriate to complete assigned duties
- Occasional travel for department collaboration and educational and training purposes
- Perform other duties as assigned
Benefits
- medical, dental and vision coverage
- TRS retirement pension plan
- option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
