Assistant General Counsel

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child, in every community, has access to a high quality education that prepares them for success in college and career.

CPS is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to represent the Board and its agents in federal and state courts, as well as in various administrative forums, such as the EEOC, IDHR, HRC, CCCHR and CCHR.The Assistant General will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy General Counsel. The Assistant General Counsel will have the following responsibilities:

1. Exercising independent judgment on complex issues in employment and civil rights litigation.

2. C ollaborating with other attorneys in the division who represent co-defendant(s) in any of the assigned charges or in litigation.

3. D eveloping a professional and efficient relationship with all Board Departments and agents which maintain data or information necessary to defend the Board and/or its agents in assigned charges or in litigation.

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

Type of Education and License Required : B.A. or B.S. and Juris Doctorate. Must be licensed to practice law and in good standing in the State of Illinois, and a member of the federal trial bar.

Type of Experience and Number of Years : Seven or more years of employment and/or civil rights litigation. Jury trial e xperience in federal court preferred. Experience in Special Education Law preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Is a strong communicator; writing, speaking, and listening.

• Ability to quickly analyze problems/questions, and decide the level of importance, and seek higher level intervention when necessary.

• Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively with Board agents whose decisions are challenged in federal and state courts, as well as in administrative forums, such as the EEOC, IDHR, HRC, CCCHR, and CCHR.
• Organizational skills and ability to manage numerous cases and charges simultaneously under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, to expeditiously assess issues and provide sound legal advice.

Application: Please submit resume, recent writing sample and three references no later than May 15, 2017.

Residency requirement: Board employees are required to be actual residents of the City of Chicago within six months of beginning employment, and to maintain Chicago residency throughout employment.

Non-discrimination/Equal Opportunity: The Board is an equal opportunity employer.