Child Protection Jobs (NOW HIRING)

***Applicants should be licensed attorneys upon submission of the application. Class of 2026 graduates will not be considered.***

Job Title: Assistant States Attorney, Child Protection Division

Reports to: The Supervisor of the Child Protection Division

Location: 1100 S. Hamilton Avenue, 6th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60612

Bureau: Juvenile Justice Bureau

Division/Unit: Child Protection

Salary: $94,714-$155,231. Salary ranges are 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.

Note: This position is on-site, in-person.

General Description:

The primary responsibility of an Assistant States Attorney assigned to the Child Protection Division is the management of a daily court call and the handling of all aspects of a caseload of child protection matters. That prosecution includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Review DCFS and social service agency documentation, medical, psychiatric, school and law enforcement records having to do with child abuse and neglect petitions, interview and prepare witnesses and work up child protection cases for trials and corollary hearings.
• Regular daily litigation including motion practice, adjudication and termination of parental rights trials and permanency hearings in all phases of child protection proceedings.
• Interact regularly in and outside of court with victims, DCFS investigators, social workers, foster care caseworkers, judges, law enforcement, family members, foster parents, social service agency providers and clinicians, community representatives, medical professionals and mental health professionals regarding cases in the Child Protection Division to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
• This is a full-time bargaining unit exempt position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited institution.
• Prior litigation (clerkship/internship experience will be considered) including trial work and legal writing and/or work in the child welfare social work field;
• A strong interest in child protection and or family law and
• An understanding of, and a commitment to, family reunification principles.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior child protection trial experience is a plus but not required.

Working Environment: Each Child Protection Division ASA is responsible for the daily operations of a child protection court call. Each Child Protection Division ASA will collaborate with his or her Child Protection Supervisor, Child Protection Division Chief, Juvenile Justice Bureau Chief, fellow Child Protection Division ASAs, DCFS personnel, juvenile courthouse partners, and community service providers regularly. Each Child Protection Division ASA shall report directly to the Child Protection Supervisor.

The Child Protection Division Assistant States Attorney shall be an effective advocate and emissary of the mission, vision, and values of the Cook County States Attorneys Office.

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:

The Cook County States Attorneys 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.