Senior Level Attorney

About the role

The City is seeking experienced attorneys to join its Legal Department in senior-level positions providing legal counsel, representation, and strategic advice to the City, its departments, elected and appointed officials, boards, and commissions.

Responsibilities

• Labor & Employment
  • Advises on employment and labor matters, including employee relations, discipline, personnel actions, and workplace issues.
  • Conducts or assists with internal investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, policy violations, and related concerns.
  • Affords assistance with collective bargaining and labor relations matters, as appropriate.
• Land Use and Development
  • Advices on land use, zoning, and development matters.
  • Drafts and reviews zoning ordinances, development regulations, resolutions, and related policies.
  • Affords advice to City staff on zoning applications, variances, special uses, planned developments, subdivisions, and annexations.
  • Drafts and negotiates development agreements, annexation agreements, and other development-related contracts.
  • Ensures land use decisions comply with constitutional, statutory, and procedural requirements.
  • Affords advice to planning commissions, zoning boards, and other decision-making bodies on legal procedures.
  • Affords advice on municipal real estate transactions and property issues associated with development.
• General Legal Counsel
  • Advises the City Manager, department heads, elected officials, boards, commissions, and staff.
  • Researches and interprets federal, state law, and local law.
  • Advices on legal risks, compliance, legislation, policies, and programs.
  • Drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, leases, deeds, policies, opinions, and other legal documents.
  • Serves as counsel to designated boards and commissions.
• Litigation & Administrative Law
  • Represents the City in hearings, negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings, and court matters.
  • Prosecutes municipal code violations and enforcement actions.
  • Handles zoning, building, property maintenance, safety, regulatory, and other municipal matters.
  • Manages civil litigation, including pleadings, discovery, motions, hearings, trials, settlements, and appeals.
  • Addresses delinquent taxes, fees, fines, assessments, and other amounts owed to the City.
  • Collaborates with City departments and outside counsel.

Requirements

• J.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to Illinois bar.
• Substantial legal experience.
• Strong legal research, writing, advocacy, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to independently analyze and resolve complex legal issues.
• Sound professional judgment, discretion, and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work effectively with officials, executives, employees, attorneys, outside professionals, and the public.

Preferred Qualifications

• Progressively responsible experience in municipal or governmental law, litigation, administrative law, labor and employment, transactional law, regulatory matters, or other relevant practice areas is preferred.
• Government or public-sector experience is desirable but not required for candidates with strong transferable experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent legal research and analytical skills.
• Strong written and oral advocacy.
• Ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical advice.
• Initiative, sound judgment, and adaptability.
• Strong organization and case-management skills.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to build effective professional relationships.
• Discretion in handling sensitive matters.
• Commitment to professionalism, integrity, and public service.