OVERVIEW

The Cook County Bureau of Human Resources is seeking a Senior Legal

Counsel to join our team.

Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to participate in a strong

tradition of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million

residents, roughly 45% of Illinois' population. Cook County Government

provides a range of vital services and programs that enhance the quality of life

for residents across the region. These services range from health care to urban

planning. Cook County is committed to empowering its employees to bring

our constituents the best that public service has to offer.

WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?

In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for

career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in

the public sphere, including:

Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescription Drug Benefit, Dental

Plans, Vision Plan and 7 Additional voluntary benefit plans

Flexible Teleworking Options

Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; Minimum

of 10 vacation days annually; Up to 4 personal days annually; and Paid sick

leave)

Pension Plan

Financial Support Programs and Resources: Life Insurance, Flexible

Spending Accounts - Dependent Day Care, Commuter Benefits, Discounted

Parking, PSLF Eligibility, Deferred Compensation and Education Tuition

Stipend

Health/Wellness Perks: Flexible Spending Accounts-Health Care, Employee

Assistance Program and MyHealth Connections wellness program.

Please review carefully the Employee Benefits page. For benefits questions contact

Risk Management at 312-603-6385 or email risk.mgmt@cookcountyil.gov.

SNAPSHOT OF COOK COUNTY:

Serves 5.28 million residents of Chicago and its inner suburbs

o 2nd largest county in America

o Larger than 27 states

Cook County employs over 22,000 employees who work in a variety of skilled jobs and trades.

o Nearly 80% unionized workforce

o 15 unions represented

o 63 separate collective bargaining agreements

Highway - Cook County maintains almost 600 miles of roads and highways.

Land - Cook County assesses the value of more than 1.5 million parcels of taxable land and collects and

distributes tax funds as a service for local government taxing bodies.

Safety - Cook County provides vital services to local government, from conducting elections in suburban areas

to offering 911 services in unincorporated areas and municipalities.

LOCATION:

Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world,

the area has an astounding number of cultural foundations, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie

Daley Park, steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, and plenty of shopping! In

addition, Chicago is serviced by multiple bus and train lines for public transportation from the suburbs to the

city, taxis are plentiful, public parking garages for motorists, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for

bicyclists.

ROLE SUMMARY

Acts as legal advisor and counsel to the bureau chief or director in all matters related to the statutory authority

and execution of powers of that department, bureau, or departments within bureau; also functions as direct

legal aid to the director or bureau chief as required. Aids in interpreting the legal ramifications of proposals,

policy directives and other actions planned or undertaken by department, bureau, or County Board. May serve

in the capacity of Freedom of Information Officer or advise on matters related to the Freedom of Information

Act. Works with the President's General Counsel and State's Attorney's Office as necessary to evaluate

litigation, respond to document requests, prepare for matters related to administrative review and address

opinions related to federal, state, or local legislation. Receives legal assignments from the bureau chief or

director as well as the President's General Counsel. Reports to the bureau chief or director and President's

General Counsel. Consults with the President's General Counsel and the Office of the Cook County State's

Attorney as required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Provides legal advice to the director or bureau chief in a variety of matters pertaining to the department's

functions, duties, powers, and responsibilities set forth and defined by the County ordinance, state, or federal

law.

Helps formulate and define legitimate and appropriate positions to be taken by the director. Conducts legal

research and advises as necessary.

Acts in tandem, where necessary, with legal advisors in the State's Attorney's Office and the President's

General Counsel to coordinate efforts with legislative or civil proceedings where necessary, including on legal

issues regarding the interpretation and enforcement of County Ordinances and policies.

Reads, analyzes, and answers correspondence pertaining to a variety of legal questions of immediate concern

to the department.

May assist the other members of the staff in revising ordinances, legislative proposals, directives,

correspondence, and/or policies for use in intergovernmental relations and public statements etc. Conducts

legal research as needed.

Handles special projects of specific purposes and confidential nature as required.

Assist in matters related to the Employee Appeals Board.

Advises director in the drafting of department procedural rules and policies pertaining to the interpretation

and enforcement of department applicable ordinances, as well as general Department policy and procedure.

Assists the director in drafting ordinances, agreements, contracts, policies, procedures, and other relevant

documentation.

May provide advice to the Public Information Officer on questions related to the Freedom of Information Act

or serve as the Freedom of Information Officer.

Reports matters of legal relevance to the President's Counsel and accepts assignments from the director and

President's Counsel as necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Thorough and extensive knowledge of the law as it pertains to local and municipal government in Illinois,

particularly with respect to Cook County government and the Chicago Metropolitan area including un-

incorporated areas of Cook County.

Skills in researching, interpreting, and arguing law as it pertains to the responsibility and authority of the

department; likewise, skilled in the legal analysis and interpretation of the rules, regulations, laws, ordinances,

and resolutions of the Cook County Board.

Transactional legal experience.

Ability to coordinate any of the above in connection with the State's Attorney and/or other designated counsel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from an accredited School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree PLUS, seven (7) years or greater

professional work experience as an attorney dealing with matters of civil law, government, or corporate

transactions AND, a licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Sedentary Work

Sedentary Work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force

frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time

but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be

construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be

performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS

POST OFFER TESTING: This position requires successful completion of post-offer tests, which may include a

background check, drug screen and medical examination.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY: Pursuant to Executive Order 2021-1 and Cook County's Mandatory COVID-19

Vaccination Policy, the selected candidate will be required to either submit proof of full vaccination or a request for

reasonable accommodation prior to the start of employment. Please click the following hyperlinks for the full text of

Executive Order 2021-1 and the Cook County's Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order, and the Cook

County Personnel this position is exempt from the County's career service rules, is at-will and political reasons or

factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt position, if you

do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency

within Cook County.