Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results-oriented individual to serve as Senior Regional Counsel. Under administrative direction, the position will represent the Department at all hearings on calendars in the juvenile courts of assigned counties, including temporary custody, adjudication, disposition, permanency, status, progress, termination of parental rights, and motion hearings. Additionally, the position will evaluate, prepare, and present evidence on behalf of the Department in court and at administrative hearings and service appeals. This position is a great opportunity for anyone who would like to use their skills as an attorney to benefit child welfare services. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent legal and organizational skills and strong leadership capabilities. We invite all qualified applicants to apply to join our innovative team to help make a difference in the lives of children and families.

Job Responsibilities

1. Serves as Senior Regional Counsel

2. Interviews Department witnesses

3. Evaluates cases involving clients where the Department is involved in court or seeking expunction or indication

4. Serves as legal advisor to the Regional Administrator

5. Plans, directs, and conducts technical legal screening and provides case consultation to caseworkers and supervisors to help prepare cases for termination of parental rights (TPR), to determine when cases are trial ready for TPR, and to provide case consideration for case plan writing in all offices throughout the region

6. Serves as Department liaison to judiciary, State’s Attorney’s Offices, and various court personnel in numerous counties in the region

7. Serves as local Department liaison to the Attorney General’s Office in cases in which the Department is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and represents the Department when the Attorney General’s Office authorizes self-representation by the Department

8. Maintains current working knowledge of new legislation, Department rules and policy, and all relevant law

9. As legal counsel to the region, provides recommendations to regional management in the discipline process, arbitration preparation, and grievance preparation concerning regional staff

10. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois

2. Requires three years of experience in the practice of law

Preferred Qualifications

1.Prefers experience as an attorney in cases involving child welfare or juvenile law

2.Prefers experience as an attorney presenting and arguing legal cases in court and/or administrative hearings

3. Prefers experience as an attorney conducting legal analysis

4. Prefers substantive legal writing experience as an attorney in the areas of motions, pleadings, briefs, and memoranda

5.Prefers professional experience working in a liaison capacity with various internal and external entities

6. Prefers thorough knowledge of Illinois statutes and rules that have a substantial impact on Illinois juvenile court proceedings and/or DCFS’s administrative hearings

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires the ability to pass a background check

2. Requires possession of a valid driver’s license and ability to travel

About the Agency

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus. The Office of Legal Services works in a supportive capacity to ensure Departmental adherence to all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and court orders.