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Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office

Criminal Appeals - Assistant State's Attorney

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290


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.

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