Associate General Counsel (PSA, 8L)

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Legislative Analyst/Policy Specialist to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for reviewing and interpreting legislation, drafting proposed bills and administrative rules, conducting legal research, and analyzing policies related to local, State, and Federal government procedures. The ideal candidate will have excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
 

Essential Functions

1. Reviews proposed legislation, amendments, regulations, and administrative rules. Interprets and summarizes legislation. Drafts proposed bills, other legislation, and administrative rules. Conducts legal research related to administrative rules, legislation, and regulations. Prepares memoranda for staff summarizing results of research with recommendations for Agency action. Monitors, tracks, and analyzes policies regarding local, State, and Federal government procedures, rules, statutes, and other activities which will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency and improve its accountability to the State and Federal governmental entities. Conducts legal analyses and policy recommendations on laws and regulations governing agency programs and operations. Uses a personal computer and other common office equipment and windows-based software. Exercises judgment and discretion in developing, implementing, and interpreting departmental policies and procedures.
2. Provides legal review, drafting, revising of contracts, agreements and/or grants. Exercises sound judgment and discretion in developing, implementing, and interpreting departmental policies and procedures. Provides input, review and coordination of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports as assigned. Drafts and coordinates efforts to develop new statutes and issue papers and other project reports being presented in a timely, comprehensive, professional, and appropriate format to agency staff. Completes reviews and analyses of contract development and enforcement issues, Executive Orders, Public Acts, rulemaking bulletins, letters, and related Agency directives to include regulations from other State agencies and the federal government. Uses critical thinking to plan, layout and review work relating to complex legal issues.
3. For the assigned programs within the Agency, performs highly responsible functions including conducting legal research, drafting legal briefs and memorandums, working on the creation and distribution of various application and eligibility determination policies and related documents used by the assigned programs. Responds to oral and written inquiries concerning available programs and department policies or transactions by drafting proposed legislation, amendments, procedures, rules, and regulations. Conducts extensive and complex research or administrative and legal studies for specific matters governing the Agency’s programs and laws. Develops and supports agency programs, analyzes administrative issues, and proposes, or adopts, as appropriate, an effective course of action.
4. Reviews, modifies, and implements records retention policies and schedules. Travels to represent the Department in administrative hearings, before various State commissions for rulemaking, record retention, public hearings, status hearings, inter-agency and/or meetings with various public boards or councils.
5. Process or provides back up for processing requests submitted to the Agency regarding Freedom of Information (FOIA). Process or provides back up for processing requests submitted to the Agency, including authorizations for the release of information and subpoenas based on specific program or other confidentiality requirements. Responds to oral and written inquiries concerning available programs and department policies or transactions.
6. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires an Illinois law license in good standing.
2. Prior experience equivalent to three years of progressively responsible legal work including research experience, administrative rule making and/or policy development experience in a public, business, or academic organization.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prefers one year of experience utilizing industry standard legal research software.

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires ability to pass a criminal background check.
2. Requires quarterly travel within the state.