Litigation Staff Attorney II

Position Overview

This is a litigation-focused role defending mental health commitment and treatment cases. Key responsibilities include drafting motions, reviewing medical records, preparing clients, interviewing witnesses, and conducting legal research. The position requires regular attendance at hearings, trials (via Zoom and in-person), and case management dockets. Proficiency with Zoom (including using exhibits), Microsoft Office, and case management software is essential.

Benefit Statement

As a State of Illinois employee, you are entitled to a robust benefits package that includes:

• Flexible work schedules in some program areas (flexible time and hybrid options)
• Health, life, vision and dental insurance
• 12 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave
• Pension Plan - vested at 10 years for Tier II
• Full 20-year retirement awards free health insurance during retirement
• Deferred compensation and other pre-tax benefits programs
• Paid state holidays 13-14 annually
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
• Personal, sick, and vacation rates modified for 12-hour work schedules. (As applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources
• For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https:www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx

Essential Functions

• This is a litigation-forward position with at least 40% of the role focused on direct client service arising from defending mental health commitment and treatment cases. 
• This role involves explaining legal rights to eligible disabled or mental health clients, either via telephone, Zoom or in person at mental health facilities.
• This position requires coordinating and disseminating information to service providers, community groups, professional associations, and recipients of mental health services concerning legal representation for individuals with disabilities. 
• The candidate must be willing to be trained to handle mental health appellate briefs.
• The role includes performing other duties as assigned or required, which are reasonably within the scope of the above responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires graduation from a recognized law school.
• Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

• Four (4) years experience as lead counsel in bench and/or jury trials providing direct client representation and services.
• Four (4) years in drafting, filing, arguing and defending petitions and motions.
• Two (2) years of experience with relevant administrative, statutory and case law reference at administrative, trial and appellate levels
• Four (4) years of advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Lexis Nexus, Westlaw or other legal research platforms, Zoom, and WebEx
• Three (3) years experience in preparing for and conducting weekly motion hearings, interpreting rules, regulations and relevant case law and proposing solutions to administrative and legal questions.
• Three (3) years experience in technical research and writing detailed reports.
• Two (2) years reviewing medical records, interviewing and preparing witnesses for trial, interviewing expert witnesses, interviewing lay witnesses.
• Two (2) years in public speaking and educational training, including, coordinating and disseminating of information to service providers, community groups, and professional associations concerning legal representation of persons with disabilities and or recipients of mental health services.
• Two (2) years experience in preparing for and conducting trials on a weekly basis.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the enhanced ability to adjust the level of communication to the target audience.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

​​​​​​Created in 1979, the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission protects the rights and promotes the welfare of persons with disabilities. A board of 11 commissioners, who serve without compensation, govern the agency. The Commission is an executive state agency created to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities. By providing legal representation, investigating complaints of rights violations, and providing state guardianship for Illinois’ population with disabilities, the Commission has given a voice to those who have previously gone unheard.