Associate Counsel (TECHNICAL ADVISOR ADVANCED PROGRAM SPECIALIST)

Position Overview

Would you like to work for a professional organization which provides steady hours and an exceptional benefits package? How about a workplace with career and personal growth opportunities? Then consider working for the Illinois Department of Revenue. We are hiring an Associate Counsel (Technical Advisor Advanced Program Specialist) for our Legal Services Office in Springfield, Illinois. This position is responsible for income tax policy, including reviewing and drafting legislation, promulgating administrative rules, issuing letter rulings, and researching income tax statutes in other states. If you have excellent legal research and writing skills and are capable of explaining complex issues in understandable terms, then we want you!  Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Apply now before time runs out!

The benefits of working at Department of Revenue include a 37 ½ hour work week, a generous salary and benefits package (paid time off for vacation, sick, or personal leave, thirteen holidays) pension and other retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement, and insurance eligibility on day one (medical, dental, vision, and life).

Essential Functions

• Under administrative direction, performs highly specialized and technical duties of a legal advisory nature.
• Renders written and oral legal opinions as an expert authority.
• Serves on project teams throughout the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) for the purpose of rendering legal advice and interpreting the various tax acts, Federal tax laws, rules and regulations and judicial decisions.
• Prepares written legal opinions, in draft form for submission to supervisor, such letter rulings in response to written requests for information concerning the application of Illinois Tax Acts to stated fact situations.
• Makes recommendations for IDOR legislative initiatives and drafts IDOR initiatives as required by key decision makers.
• Assists supervisor in preparing legal documents for filing with the Secretary of State and Joint Committee on Administrative Rules relative to rule making activities initiated by the Division.
• Works with managers and staff in drafting tax forms, notices, letters, bulletins and allied documents.
• Conducts litigation conferences and quasi-judicial hearings as assigned by supervisor.
• 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 law school.
• Requires the possession of a license to practice law in Illinois.
• Requires three years professional experience in the practice of law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience working with common law and state and federal laws, particularly relating to administrative and regulatory functions.
• Three (3) years of experience reviewing, drafting, revising, and analyzing legislation and state agency rulemaking.
• One (1) year of experience working in the field of law with which primarily concerned, i.e., revenue tax law.
• Three (3) years of experience working with principles of administration and management, including organization, controls and techniques used in dealing with management and procedural problems.
• Three (3) years of experience planning, coordinating and reviewing work relating to complicated legal problems.
• Three (3) years of experience analyzing, appraising, and organizing facts, evidence and precedents concerned in difficult and complex cases and in presenting such material in clear and logical form for oral or written presentation, as briefs, orders, reports or decisions.
• Three (3) years of experience in public accountancy or otherwise interpreting and applying the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to successfully complete a tax compliance and fingerprint-based background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Requires the ability to use and secure a state issued mobile device, e.g., cellular phone, laptop computer, tablet, etc.
• 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.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

Agency Statement

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is responsible for administering the state's tax laws and collecting taxes in a fair, consistent, and efficient manner. Their goal is to provide accurate, timely, and reliable funding and information to both state and local communities. By implementing best practices, IDOR works to continuously improve and enhance accuracy, efficiency, and productivity across all areas of operations and tax administration. In doing so, they aim to earn respect, deliver value, and serve as a trusted source of information for the public.

IDOR is a professional governmental entity that prioritizes its employees and actively invests in their success through comprehensive training and engagement. As the proud Platinum recipient of the 2026 Bell Seal for workplace mental health, IDOR cultivates an environment that encourages open dialogue and collaboration on mental health issues. With a strong commitment to diversity—both culturally and professionally—IDOR believes that this inclusive approach leads to a more productive workplace, ultimately benefiting the citizens and taxpayers of Illinois.