Criminal Division - Entry - Assistant State's Attorney

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

Bureau: Criminal Prosecution’s Bureau

Division/Unit: Misdemeanor, Appeals, Child Support, Traffic, 1^st Municipal, Juvenile, Suburbs, Domestic Violence and Alternative Prosecutions

Application deadline: Rolling

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 Misdemeanor, Criminal Appeals, Traffic, Domestic Violence Units, and the Juvenile Justice Bureau.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• 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, 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 either a member in good standing with the Illinois bar, , or eligible for admission to Illinois bar on Motion (reciprocity)
• 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

At the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO), we champion diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusivity! We are passionately committed to building a team that represents a wealth of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Our strength lies in our diversity, and we actively seek, develop, and cherish talent from all walks of life.

We're proud to say that we stand firmly against discrimination of any kind—whether it's based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. At CCSAO, everyone is welcome.

And, we're not just about saying it—we're about living it! If you’re a qualified individual who requires reasonable accommodation based on religion, disability, or pregnancy, please let us know. At CCSAO, we’re all about empowering our team to shine.

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.