Description
Attorney
Bid/Job Announcement
Number of Positions: 2 (Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
This position is open to current AFSCME BIDDERS AND the PUBLIC. Only current City employees
covered under the City’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4, & 5 are
considered BIDDERS and are eligible to bid. Qualified BIDDERS who properly submit a bid
application will receive preference over any non-bidders.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site:
https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND
- Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”
- Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled ‘payee/employee number’)
- Select your correct bargaining unit
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION.
WORKING WITH THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY (COPA)
The mission of COPA is to:
- provide a just and efficient means to fairly and timely conduct investigations within our
jurisdiction. - determine whether allegations of police misconduct are well-founded.
- identify and address patterns of police misconduct; and
- make policy recommendations to improve the Chicago Police Department, thereby
reducing incident of police misconduct.
ROLE SUMMARY
This position is with the City’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) and provides legal
counsel in support of the agency’s mission to conduct fair police misconduct investigations and
advises the investigative staff and department management on matters related to the
department’s operations, and performs related duties as required.
Under direction of senior management, the Attorney provides legal counsel to investigators
regarding all substantive issues that arise from the office’s investigations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Provides advice on legal issues related to investigations including issues concerning local,
state, and federal laws, statutes, and contracts. - Provides legal counsel on topics such as: evidence collection, labor and employment
including collective bargaining agreements and the employee’s duty to cooperate, and
the interpretation and enforcement of statutes and ordinances. - Advises the Investigators and Supervising Investigators on strategic and legal investigative
matters, including investigative techniques and the strength of evidence obtained. - Writes and edits summary investigative reports.
- Performs legal research; writes and edits legal memoranda on issues related to
investigations. - Prepares affidavits and other documents for criminal, civil or administrative actions.
- Coordinates with outside law enforcement and prosecutorial entities as appropriate.
- Provides training on legal issues as requested by senior management.
- Assists in the development of departmental policies, procedures, and programs, as
- required
- Performs related duties as required.
The list of essential duties is not intended to be exhaustive; there may be other duties that are
essential.
Location: 1615 W. Chicago Ave, 4th floor, Chicago, IL 60622
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Salary: $90,144.00/Annually (non-negotiable)
This position is in the Career Service
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school, plus three (3) years
of work experience in the legal profession as a licensed attorney.
NOTE: You must include a writing sample (10-15 pages in length) as an attachment to your
application. The writing sample must be an original work (either wholly or substantially authored
by you) and must reflect legal reasoning, such as a legal memo, motion to court, legal article, or
research paper.
Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications
Admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705)
Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:
Previous substantive work experience, at least one (1) year, in one of the following areas:
criminal law, constitutional law, labor law, administrative law, or police oversight.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires applicants to complete an interview and to submit a written sample. The
interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of
the position will be selected.
Writing Sample – All Writing samples submitted in consideration for employment must comply
with the following criteria:
- The sample may either be a professional project report, academic project report, or an
official
communication related to a professional or academic project or a work-related report or
communication - Each writing sample submitted must be no more than 10-15 pages in length
- Each writing sample must be accompanied by a cover page explaining:
a. the sample’s original purpose (e.g., a writing class, a professional project, a
memorandum for an employer, etc.).
b. when (MM/DD/YYYY) and for whom the sample was written.
c. the extent of editing by any third party; AND
d. if the writing sample is an excerpt from a larger document, identify that larger
document and provide context, if necessary
ABOUT YOU:
COPA is seeking candidates with a strong focus on the following values:
- Integrity: Maintaining a commitment to honesty, personal responsibility, excellence, and
utmost professionalism in the work performed by COPA and in all internal and external
interactions. This includes a commitment to identifying and dismantling discriminatory
systems and culture within COPA, the Chicago Police Department, and the community. - Transparency: Promoting the sharing of information about the work of COPA internally
and externally in a manner not in conflict with City and COPA policy, such that the public
trust in the mission of COPA is established and maintained. This includes a commitment
to cultivating a respectful work environment and team building to ensure effective
communication that furthers common goals. - Independence: Conducting the business of COPA in a manner that is objective and free
from political or other outside influences, such that the public trust in the mission and
work of COPA is established and maintained. This includes a commitment to informed
decision making and continual efforts to improves processes and systems to further the
mission of COPA. - Timeliness: Conducting the business of COPA in a manner that promotes timely and fair
resolution to all matters.
Application Evaluation: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the
application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review
applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring
Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when
applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an
eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of
Chicago..
Education & Employment Requirements and Verification: You must provide information about
your educational background and work experience including job titles, dates of employment
(month/year), and specific job duties on your resume and/or application as it relates to the
qualifications of the position for which you are applying. ‘Acting Up’ cannot be considered for
current City employees. Please attach all applicable transcripts, diplomas, licenses, and/or
certificates as outlined on the job posting for the position you are applying for. The initial
evaluation will be based on information provided and documents submitted with the application.
Applications must be submitted by the individual applicant. Employment applications lacking the
required documentation will not be considered. For information regarding the required
attachments, please review the description section of the job posting. Please be advised that if
you are selected to be hired you must provide, upon request, adequate information regarding
your educational and employment history. If you have received your degree internationally, you
will be required to provide a Foreign Credential Evaluation. If the City of Chicago cannot verify
this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn and you will not be hired.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: 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.
The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who
are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas
(SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments
for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining
Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining
agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our
hiring practices click here.
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.
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.
Salary and Benefit Information: For more information regarding compensation with the City of
Chicago, please visit:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2023_2024_
Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf
For more information regarding benefits please visit:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html
All references to political sponsorship or recommendations must be omitted from all application
materials submitted for City employment.
The City is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.
Residency Requirement: All employees of the City of Chicago must be actual residents of the City
as outlined in 2-152-050 of the City Chicago Municipal Code. Proof of residency will be required.
All positions with the City of Chicago close promptly at 11:59 pm CDT. Applications for this
position will be accepted from April 9, 2026 until 11:59 pm CDT on May 9, 2026. No exceptions
will be made.
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
