LAS Managing Attorney - Southern Region

Position Overview

Under the direction of the Director of Legal Advocacy Services, serves as the managing attorney for the southern LAS Division. Responsible for supervising staff attorneys, assigning duties, allocating resources and overseeing performance. Provides legal advice and assistance to staff attorneys on cases and activities. Coordinates appellate and trial activities and reports developing trends to the Director of LAS. Develops contracts and/or co-counsel agreements, subject to approval by the Director of LAS and Chief Counsel, with Legal Services Corporation-funded programs or other legal service programs in Illinois to provide and continue legal services to eligible clients.

Benefits 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 – vesting 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 days 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

• Supervises Staff Attorneys in the assignment of duties, allocation of resources, and supervision of performance.
• Provides legal advice and assistance to Staff Attorneys on cases and activities.
• Coordinates appellate and trial activities and reports developing trends to the Director of LAS.
• Monitors and coordinates all Federal and State court proceedings in which LAS appears as attorney of record, amicus or court appointment.
• Develops for approval by Director of LAS and Chief Counsel, contracts and/or co-counsel agreements with Legal Services Corporation funded programs or other legal services programs in Illinois to provide and continue legal service to eligible clients.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned with are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a license to practice law in Illinois.
• Requires graduation from an approved law school.
• Requires experience equivalent to (3) three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

• Prefers (4) four years of professional supervisory experience advising, assisting, and directing other attorneys in implementing case strategy, training staff, approving time off and preparing and signing performance evaluations.
• Prefers (5) five years of trial and appellate practice experience, working and applying rules of evidence and judicial and administrative procedures, case law, and legal research techniques.
• Prefers (4) years of experience analyzing, appraising, and organizing facts, evidence, and precedents and in presenting such material in clear and logical form in written media as briefs, memoranda, summarizations, research reports, or regulations.
• Prefers (3) three years developing and implementing policy, as well as evaluating and responding to administrative problems and issues.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Lexis Nexus, Westlaw or other legal research platforms, Zoom and WebEx.

Conditions of Employment

• Successful completion and passing of fingerprint and background check.
• Requires ability to travel in performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Requires overtime and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled or last-minute overtime. This requires ability to work evenings and weekends.
• 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.
• 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.