Description:
The City of Chicago Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel III ("ACC") in the Collections, Ownership, and Administrative Litigation (COAL) Division to be a member of the Special Collections Unit (SCU). COAL is responsible for, among other things, collecting debts due and owing to the City, litigating property ownership issues regarding properties cited with health and safety violations of the Municipal Code, and bankruptcy matters involving the City.
The ACCs within the SCU will draft and prosecute complaints, engage in significant discovery and motion practice, conduct hearings and trials, make case recommendations, and participate in settlement negotiations. They will be responsible for their own cases representing the City in circuit court, federal district court, bankruptcy court, and the City's Department of Administrative Hearings. They will also help develop and implement procedures and protocols, conduct law clerk training, and work on a variety of special projects. The ACCs will work under the general supervision of the Deputy, Chief, and Supervising ACC of the Collections Unit within the COAL division and assist in the counseling of various client departments.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ideal candidates will possess the following:
Significant litigation experience in an administrative body, state, and federal court.
The ability to oversee projects, including skill in analysis, evaluation, decision-making, delegation and follow-up.
Superior writing, research and editing skills.
Strong analytical reasoning, negotiation, legal research and oral and written communication skills.
Exceptional client counseling skills.
Ability to organize, prioritize, monitor and control workflow deadlines.
Ability to work well with and motivate others.
Demonstrated leadership ability and initiative on assigned tasks.
Experience providing client counseling.
Commitment to public service.
Preference may be given to candidates possessing the following:
Experience in litigation and trial work.
Experience in collections, bankruptcy, and foreclosures.
Experience in determining real property ownership.
Experience with the Illinois Property Tax Code and Bankruptcy Code.
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 26, 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 writing samples (merge the writing samples prior to uploading); and
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: $88,272.00 - 154,044.00 (salary is based on a variety of factors including experience and credentials)
Click to view our generous benefits package (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dol/supp\info/attorney\vacancies.html#:~:text=Salary and Benefits,Retirement Pension Fund)
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: Application technical issues may be solved through the use of Google Chrome as a browser.
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
