DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL

Position Overview

The Office of General Counsel is seeking to hire a self-motivated, organized and detailed-oriented individual with a license to practice law in Illinois to serve as Deputy General Counsel for Division of Developmental Disabilities. The Deputy General Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor to the Division of Developmental Disabilities and advises on all legal matters concerning the provision of services to individuals with developmental disabilities.  While this position advises on any legal issues concerning provision of services to individuals with developmental disabilities, it will have concentrations in Medicaid law, mental health court proceedings, guardianship matters, and licensing, certification and regulation of community programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Deputy General Counsel provides advice, assistance and consultation to leadership within the Division of Developmental Disabilities and to executive staff within the Department of Human Services. The Deputy General Counsel supervises other attorneys within the Office of General Counsel and regularly liaises with attorneys from the Office of the Governor, non-profit agencies serving individuals with developmental disabilities, private attorneys, and attorneys from other federal, State, and municipal governmental entities.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Deputy General Counsel providing legal advice and counsel to Department of Human Services programs operated by the Division of Developmental Disabilities, including State-Operated Developmental Centers, Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waiver Programs, licensing of Community Integrated-Living Arrangements, and certification of Community Day Services.
• Serves as a full line supervisor.
• Works with external parties, including Assistant State’s Attorneys, to resolve legal matters before involving the Office of the Attorney General. 
• Analyzes and interprets statutes, regulations, and Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waivers governing the provision of services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Drafts and reviews a variety of complex legal documents for the Division of Developmental Disabilities, including contracts, intergovernmental agreements, data sharing agreements, and student affiliation agreements.
• Assists the General Counsel in the overall functioning of the Office of the General Counsel within the Department of Human Services.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires graduation from a recognized school of law.
• Requires possession of a license to practice law in Illinois.
• Requires four (4) years progressively responsible professional experience in the practice of law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Four (4) years of professional experience litigating or providing legal advice to clients on matters specific to individuals with developmental disabilities or mental illnesses, such as civil commitments, involuntary medication, clinical eligibility for Medicaid Waiver services or discharge from an institution or community residential program.
• Four (4) years of professional experience providing legal advice to clients on interpretation of Federal Medicaid law and/or implementation of Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waivers.
• Four (4) years of professional experience supervising licensed attorneys and assigning legal work.
• Four (4) years of professional experience as a licensed attorney working with confidential mental health and developmental disabilities records, including releases of information and statutory protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, or similar confidentiality laws.
• Four (4) years of professional experience providing legal advice to leadership and executive staff in a healthcare, nursing home, governmental or social services organization, or any organization that specifically serves individuals with developmental disabilities or mental illnesses.
• Four (4) years of professional experience as a licensed attorney reviewing and advising on proposed changes to statutes, administrative regulations or Medicaid Waivers.
• Four (4) years of professional experience litigating or providing legal advice to clients on guardianship and probate matters.
• Four (4) years of professional experience litigating or providing legal advice to clients on licensure of community-integrated living arrangements, certification of community day services, or other licensure or certification of inpatient or outpatient community health programs or institutions, such as nursing homes.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

*All conditions of employment listed are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.