Civil Rights Attorneys In Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor directs attorneys in the Special Federal Litigation Division. The Division defends sworn and civilian police personnel and the City of Chicago in federal and state lawsuits. These lawsuits concern alleged civil rights violations or state law liability claims based on allegations of police misconduct or abuse of authority. Special Federal Litigation Division attorneys practice in both federal court and in the Circuit Court of Cook County. They have a sophisticated and complex practice involving extensive motion practice, intensive discovery, settlement negotiations, and trial practice. The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor, working under the general supervision of the Division Chief and Deputy, handles and litigates higher exposure cases. In addition, the Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor has supervisory responsibilities of Assistant Corporation Counsel over all phases of their assigned cases throughout trial and post-trial motions, up to the appeal stage. The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor will also act as a trial partner as needed by the Special Federal Litigation Division.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ideal candidates will possess the following:

• Seven (7) years of legal experience as a licensed attorney;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil law, particularly municipal defense litigation, Section 1983 claims and intentional tort claims;
• Substantive knowledge and prior experience in the areas of federal and state civil litigation;
• Three or more jury trials, at least one as first chair preferred;
• Deposition experience;
• Discovery experience, including expert discovery experience;
• Superior writing, research and editing skills;
• Ability to organize, prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines;
• Exceptional client counseling skills;
• Exceptional supervisory skills, including coaching, counseling and training attorneys and staff;
• Demonstrated ability to work well with and motivate others; and
• Demonstrated ability to exhibit leadership and initiative on assigned tasks.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree
• Admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705), good standing with your state Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission

Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any American law school that has passed and maintains the requirements of accreditation by the American Bar Association ( www.americanbar.org ).
Mandatory Submission Terms
You must submit an online application by August 12 , 2026 including the items listed below:

• Cover letter that (1) includes the position title and job number as noted on the posting; and (2) specifically identifies how you meet the minimum qualifications and have the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (official or unofficial);
• Two (2) Writing Samples (merge the writing samples prior to uploading)
• Current printout of your attorney registration status from the Illinois ARDC website at www.iardc.org (or your admitted state bar's equivalent).

NOTE: Please do not upload or send materials other than those specifically requested above.
NOTE: Failure to submit all materials will result in your application not being considered for the position.
Salary: $118,596.00 - 164,100.00 (salary is based on a variety of factors including experience and credentials)
Click to view our generous benefits package
For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html
For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf
NOTE REGARDING PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: Working for the City of Chicago Department of Law may qualify you for loan forgiveness under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For detailed information, visit www.StudentAid.gov/publicservice or contact your federal loan servicer.
NOTE: Candidates experiencing trouble uploading the required documents to our system may e-mail the documents to: DOL.Application@cityofchicago.org. However, uploading documents directly to your CAREERS applicant profile is our preferred method of receipt.
NOTE: If you have questions, please contact the Department of Human Resources (312-744-4976) or DOL.Application@cityofchicago.org.
Selection Requirements
This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.
Evaluation
Your initial evaluation will be based on the documents submitted. Applications must be submitted by the individual applicant. No second party applications will be accepted.
NOTE: To be considered for this position you must provide information about your educational background and your work experience. You must include job titles, dates of employment, and specific job duties. (If you are a current City employee, Acting Up cannot be considered.) If you fail to provide this information at the time you submit your application, it will be incomplete, and you will not be considered for this position. There are three ways to provide the information: 1) you may attach a resume; 2) you may paste a resume; or 3) you can complete the online resume fields.
Education & Employment Verification: Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request adequate information regarding your educational and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn and you will not be hired.
Fair Chance Hiring Employer: The City of Chicago is committed to being a Fair Chance Hiring employer. We value applicants with diverse experiences, including those who have had prior contact with the criminal legal system. Having a criminal history, including prior incarceration, arrest(s), and/or conviction(s) does not automatically disqualify you from employment with the City of Chicago.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment, the City will conduct a background check. The resulting report will be used to conduct an individualized assessment to determine if the nature of any prior conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have been selected. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances.
Residency Requirement: All employees of the City of Chicago must be actual residents of the City of Chicago as outlined in 2-152-050 of the City of Chicago Municipal Code. Proof of residency will be required.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation due to disability or pregnancy in order to participate in the application process, please contact the City of Chicago, Department of Human Resources, at 312-744-4976 or disabilityaccommodations@cityofchicago.org. Please be prepared to provide information in support of your reasonable accommodation request.
THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE.
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ANY AND ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.
The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer. To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson
Mayor