Assistant General Counsel, School Law - Special Education

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 360,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 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 Assistant General Counsel, Special Education will join the School Law Unit in the CPS Law office. This position will be responsible for advising school-based administrators on special education matters. The Assistant General Counsel will report to the Deputy General Counsel, and will work closely with the Assistant Deputy General Counsel, Senior Assistant General Counsel.

The Assistant General Counsel will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Represent the Chicago Public Schools in special education due process hearings by investigating the merit of a case, submitting the legally required complaint response, participating in legally required resolution sessions, preparing documentary and witness based evidence for hearings, participating in pre-hearing and related conferences, and submitting oral and/or written arguments;
• Represent the Chicago Public Schools in Illinois State Board of Education mediations, informally mediate disputes, and formally respond to State Complaints filed by parents and staff;
• Provide expert and well-managed legal services related to Special Education, attend IEP conferences, coordinate the implementation of hearing orders, mediation and settlement agreements with Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services and local school staff;
• Conduct and support training regarding Due Process Complaints, Mediation Requests, 504 matters, and general special education legal concerns;
• Advise Board of Education and school-based staff on Board rules, policies and statutes related to school law, including, but not limited to: enrollment and transfer, student privacy, student discipline, special education concerns, Charter school related matters, custody issues, and school climate matters.
• Prepare and conduct due process hearings for school restructuring, enrollment fraud, and local school council eligibility; and
• Assist the School Law Deputy General Counsel with special projects related to cross-functional work and new initiatives.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Assistant General Counsel must possess the following qualifications:

Type of Education Required :

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Licensed and authorized to practice law in the state of Illinois.

Type of Experience and Number of Years :

• Minimum of three (3) years of legal practice.
• Litigation or administrative hearing experience is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Strong knowledge of the Illinois School Code and special education regulations, IDEA, ADA, and other laws supporting individuals with disabilities
• Exceptional advocacy, analytical, oral and written communication skills;
• Motivated, dynamic, team-oriented, individual with the ability to work cooperatively and effectively in a team environment to resolve issues and make effective decisions;
• Capable of working both independently and collaboratively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment'
• Strong work ethic, integrity, sound judgment, initiative, and strategic thinking skills;
• Organizational skills and ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously under pressure;
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership and solve problems; and
• Able to expeditiously assess issues and provide sound legal advice.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and recent writing sample.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• 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.
• Be Fully Vaccinated or Submit to Weekly COVID-19 Testing - Employees are required to be fully vaccinated within 30 days of their hire date. Full vaccination is defined as at least two weeks after your second shot of a two-shot vaccination course, or at least two weeks after a one-shot vaccination course. Unvaccinated staff must submit to weekly testing.