Supervisory Regional Counsel

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized professional and results oriented individual to serve as Supervisory Regional Counsel. Under administrative direction this 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 provide technical advice and counsel to Agency personnel conducting all levels of administrative fair hearings and serve as the Departments representative in the fair hearing process while supervising a subordinate attorney or paralegal. 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.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Supervisory Regional Counsel
• Provides technical advice and counsel to Agency personnel conducting all levels of administrative fair hearings
• Serves as full line supervisor
• Serves as legal advisor to the Regional Administrator
• 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
• Serves as agency liaison to judiciary States Attorney offices and various court personnel in each county in the region
• Serves as local agency liaison to the Attorney Generals Office in cases in which the agency is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and represents the Department when the Attorney Generals Office authorizes self-representation by the agency
• Maintains current working knowledge of new legislation agency rules and policy and all relevant law
• As legal counsel to the Region provides recommendations to regional management in the discipline process arbitration preparation and grievance preparation concerning regional staff
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois
• Requires three years of experience in the practice of law

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers experience as an attorney in cases involving child welfare or juvenile law
• Prefers experience as an attorney presenting and arguing legal cases in court and/or administrative hearings
• Prefers experience as an attorney conducting legal analysis
• Prefers substantive legal writing experience as an attorney in the areas of motions pleadings briefs and memoranda
• Prefers professional experience working in collaboration with various internal and external entities
• Prefers thorough knowledge of Illinois statutes and rules that have a substantial impact on Illinois juvenile court proceedings and/or DCFSs administrative hearings

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires the ability to pass a background check

2. Requires possession of a valid drivers license and ability to travel

3. The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description

About the Agency

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting 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.

As a State of Illinois Employee you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A Pension Program
• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health Life Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
  • Personal Sick & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• GI BillTraining/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)

For more information about our benefits please follow this link: Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Work Location: 500 42nd St Rock Island Illinois 61201
Posting Group: Legal Audit & Compliance

Agency Contact:

Michael Bernardy
(for questions only)

Revolving Door:
Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment the employee shall prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your junk mail spam or other folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses: