What are the responsibilities and job description for the Law Clerk position at City of Chicago Department of Law?
The City of Chicago's Department of Law is seeking individuals who are interested in working as a part-time Law Clerk. This is the ideal position for an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois or a law student who is looking for experience preparing cases for litigation, prosecuting violations, and administrative review of the Chicago Municipal Code in Circuit Court or at the Department of Administrative Hearings; collecting debts owed to the City of Chicago, prosecuting violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code in Circuit Court.
Essential Duties
- Researches questions of law and conducts factual investigations for assigned cases
- Summarizes and presents findings of legal research and factual investigations in written and oral reports
- Prepares and responds to discovery requests
- Interviews witnesses
- Assists attorneys in preparing legal cases for court or administrative hearings
- Represents the City or its agents in various court systems (e.g., Circuit Court of Cook County, Department of Administrative Hearings) and in labor relations proceedings, as required
- Assists in serving as a liaison between the department and respondents, other City departments, and other agencies to facilitate information exchange, as required
Additional duties may be required for this position
Law Clerks will be assigned to work in one of the following Divisions:
Building & License Enforcement (BLE) - This Division handles fire, building, health, and zoning code violations as well as licensing issues.
Legal Information & Prosecutions (LIP) - The Prosecutions unit within this Division handles cases that may include fatal and multiple-vehicle traffic accidents, routine traffic citations and other Chicago Municipal Code violations punishable by a jail time penalty and/or fine. This division requires the applicant to be eligible to practice pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 711 or a licensed attorney at the time of application.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Completion of at least one semester in an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any American law school that has passed and maintains the requirements of accreditation by the American Bar Association (www.americanbar.org).
NOTE: A copy of your official transcripts, professional license, or training certificates will be required at the time of processing, if applicable.
Selection Requirements
This position does not require a test or interview. Applicants who successfully apply for the position, meet the minimum qualifications, and possess the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be hired in a lottery/random order,
AND
Preference will be given to applicants who meet the following criteria:
- Possession of a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale or 3.5 or above on a 5.0 scale from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited Law School.
- Possession of a 711 license.