Senior Assistant General Counsel - School Law

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 Senior Assistant General Counsel will join the School Law Unit within the CPS Law Office. This position will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy General Counsel and will be responsible for advising school based administrators on policy and school law matters.

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

• 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, custody issues, school climate matters, and charter school related issues;
• Review, track, and oversee the creation of District policy and Continuous Improvement efforts;
• Track, organize, and report on School Law matters to the Deputy General Counsel - School Law and Department Leadership;
• Supervise, manage, mentor and develop direct reports, including Assistant General Counsels and Support Staff;
• Review and edit written work as well as provide guidance and strategy to School Law Group attorneys;
• Prepare and conduct due process hearings for school restructuring, enrollment fraud, and local school council eligibility;
• Conduct training for school administrators on school law related topics; and
• Assist the Deputy General Counsel - School Law with special projects related to cross-functional work and new initiatives.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Senior 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 five (5) years of legal practice, including direct experience counseling clients, is required.
• Administrative hearing or Litigation experience, and experience managing attorneys and support staff, is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Motivated, dynamic, team-oriented individual with excellent analytical skills and judgment, and the ability to work both independently as well as collaboratively in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional advocacy, oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment to resolve issues and make effective decisions;
• 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
• Problem solver able to expeditiously assess issues and provide sound legal advice.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a 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.