Criminal Appeals - Assistant State's Attorney

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney

Reports to: Supervisor and Deputy Supervisors of the Criminal Appeals Division

Location: 50 W. Washington Street, 3rd FL

Bureau: Criminal Prosecution’s Bureau

Division/Unit: Criminal Appeals Division (Permanent)

General Description:

The Criminal Prosecutions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney Office is seeking permanent Assistant State’s Attorneys in the Criminal Appeals Division. This is a full time, exempt position.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Primarily draft appellate briefs in response to defendants’ appeals from their criminal convictions in felony and misdemeanor cases
• Litigate State appeals, appeals involving mental health court decisions and matters originating in the Juvenile Justice Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County
• File appellate briefs in appeals arising from the Post-Conviction Hearing Act, and file briefs in other collateral appeals
• Prepare well-written and persuasive appellate briefs and perform all appellate litigation in criminal, juvenile, mental health and certificate of innocence appeals on behalf of the People of the State of Illinois
• Research legal issues, draft appellate motions and other legal instruments and memoranda, respond to defense appellate motions and pretrial detention appeals
• Present oral arguments before the First District Appellate Court, while demonstrating proficient understanding of the Illinois Criminal Code, the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, the Illinois Rules of Evidence, the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, and other statutory and rule-based provisions
• Communicate with supervisors, and support victims throughout the pendency of appellate proceedings.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school and five (5) years of practicing law
• 3 years of appellate litigation, post-conviction practice, or judicial clerkship experience
• Be either a member in good standing with the Illinois bar, or eligible for admission to Illinois bar on Motion (reciprocity)
• Excellent legal research and legal writing abilities
• Extensive motion practice experience
• Demonstrate the ability to articulate sound legal arguments both orally and in writing
• Significant and demonstrated understanding of criminal law, with an emphasis on appellate and case law
• A solid work ethic and show attention to detail and accountability
• Ability to work independently and be part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of appellate litigation, post-conviction practice, or judicial clerkship experience

Working Environment:

This is an appellate litigation position in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant State’s Attorneys in the Criminal Appeals Division will practice primarily in the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court. Criminal Appeals Assistant State’s Attorneys will report to the Supervisor and Deputy Supervisors of the Criminal Appeals Division and will be required to manage a significant caseload of appellate litigation. Criminal Appeals Assistant State’s Attorneys will be expected to work closely with administrative staff, the Clerk of the Appellate Court staff, and supervisors within the Criminal Appeals Division and other divisions of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Criminal Appeals Assistant State’s Attorneys are expected to work well with people from diverse communities, work independently, possess excellent time management skills and be self-initiating. Criminal Appeals Assistant State’s Attorneys also must be able to effectively reflect the mission and values of the CCSAO to 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.

Covid

Recent developments have allowed for the lifting of general orders related to COVID-19. However, if hired, candidates will need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit a request for reasonable accommodation. Selected candidates may make a request for accommodation prior to employment or any time during their initial week of hire.