SENIOR REGIONAL COUNSEL
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Senior Regional Counsel. Under administrative direction, this position will represent the Department at all hearings on calendars in the juvenile courts of assigned counties, including temporary custody, adjudication, disposition, permanency, status, progress, termination of parental rights, and motion hearings. Additionally, the position will provide technical advice and counsel to Agency personnel conducting all levels of administrative “fair hearings” and serve as the Department’s representative in the “fair hearing” process, while supervising a subordinate attorney or paralegal. This position is a great opportunity for anyone who would like to use their skills as an attorney to benefit child welfare services. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent legal and organizational skills and strong leadership capabilities. We invite all qualified applicants to apply to join our innovative team to help make a difference in the lives of children and families.
Requirements
- Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois
- Requires three years of experience in the practice of law
Nice To Haves
- Prefers experience as an attorney in cases involving child welfare or juvenile law
- Prefers experience as an attorney presenting and arguing legal cases in court and/or administrative hearings
- Prefers experience as an attorney conducting legal analysis
- Prefers substantive legal writing experience as an attorney in the areas of motions, pleadings, briefs, and memoranda
- Prefers professional experience working in a liaison capacity with various internal and external entities
- Prefers thorough knowledge of Illinois statutes and rules that have a substantial impact on Illinois juvenile court proceedings and/or DCFS’s administrative hearings
Responsibilities
- Serves as Senior Regional Counsel
- Interviews Department witnesses
- Evaluates cases involving clients where the Department is involved in court or seeking expunction or indication
- Serves as legal advisor to regional field staff
- Plans, directs, and conducts technical legal screening and provides case consultation to caseworkers and supervisors to help prepare cases for termination of parental rights (TPR), to determine when cases are trial ready for TPR
- Serves as Department liaison to judiciary, State’s Attorney’s Offices, and various court personnel in numerous counties in the region
- Maintains current working knowledge of new legislation, Department rules and policy, and all relevant law
- Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above
Benefits
- A Pension Program
- Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
- 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
- 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
- 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
- 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
- Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
- 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
- Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
- Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
- GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
- 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
- Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
