Assistant State Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

***Applicants MUST be licensed in the state of Illinois upon submission of their application. Class of 2026 graduates will not be considered.***
Job Title: Assistant State's Attorney - Entry Level 1-5 years' Experience, Criminal Division
Reports to: Supervisor and Deputy Supervisors of the Criminal Division
Location: Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Chicago, IL municipal courts and surrounding suburban districts including Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview, and Markham. All interested candidates must be prepared to be assigned to any CCSAO location in Cook County.
Bureau: Criminal Prosecution's Bureau
Division/Unit: Placement of unit is dependent on level of experience and departmental need
Salary: $92,857-$105,063. Salary is provided by law; however, individual compensation is based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, years and quality of experience. Any salary offered is determined by the Chief of Staff and is non-negotiable.
Note: The Cook County State's Attorney's Office does not sponsor H1-B work visa petitions.
General Description:
The Criminal Prosecutions Bureau of the Cook County State's Attorney Office is seeking an entry level Assistant State's Attorney in the Criminal Misdemeanors (City or Suburban), Domestic Violence Misdemeanors (City or Suburban), Felony Review, Juvenile Justice (Delinquency), and Traffic units.
Duties/Responsibilities:

• Will be prosecuting under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois Assistant State's Attorney
• Will be required to manage misdemeanor and traffic caseloads, as well as handle preliminary hearings, grand jury indictments, and bond hearings
• Will be expected to work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials
• Work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating
• Effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community
• Preparing misdemeanor and traffic cases for disposition
• Litigate motions, petitions, bench and jury trials and all functions related to the aforementioned trials
• Work with witnesses and victims to prepare for testimony, either during trial or before the Grand Jury.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Be a member in good standing with the Illinois bar
• Must have 1 or more years of criminal law experience
• Excellent legal research and legal writing abilities
• Demonstrate the ability to articulate sound legal arguments both orally and in writing, as well as articulate the rationale for decisions made
• A solid work ethic and show attention to detail and accountability
• Ability to work independently as well as be part of a team, including courtroom personnel

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3 or more years of criminal practice
• 1-2 years of prosecutorial practice
• 1-2 years trial experience either at the misdemeanor or felony level

Working Environment:
In this role, the Assistant State's Attorney will be assigned to cover geographical areas (i.e. Chicago, Suburban Courthouses, etc.) in Cook County. The Assistant State's Attorney will be prosecuting under the Criminal Code of the State of Illinois. The Assistant State's Attorney will be required to manage misdemeanor and traffic caseloads. The Assistant State's Attorney will be expected to work closely with multiple law enforcement agencies and represent the People of the State of Illinois in hearings and trials. The Assistant State's Attorney must be able to work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, have excellent time management skills and be self-initiating. The Assistant State's Attorney must be able to effectively communicate the mission and values of the CCSAO to members of the community.
Physical Requirements:
Light work. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
EEO Message: The Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) is an equal opportunity employer, which seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The CCSAO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request, the CCSAO will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals due to a disability or pregnancy. The EEOP report can be found on our website at www.cookcountystatesattorney.org.
Benefits
At Cook County, we believe in investing in you, our valued employee. We understand that your well-being directly impacts the quality of service we provide to our community. That's why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial stability, and work-life balance. Here's a snapshot of what we offer:
Choose from a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans to best suit your lifestyle and needs. We provide a robust Paid Time Off (PTO) program, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, as well as 13 paid holidays. As a public service employer, our employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Our Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling and referral services to help you navigate life's challenges. And of course, a pension plan through Cook County.
Follow this link to the Cook County Benefits and this link to Cook County Pension Fund if you want to learn more about our amazing benefit coverage. The CCSAO does not provide relocation assistance.