ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL-CCPSA

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Associate General Counsel

Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability

(CCPSA)

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1 (Additional vacancies possible, pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $112,608/YR

Under the direction of the General Counsel, The Associate General Counsel provides legal counsel and support to the Executive Director and staff, Commissioners, and District Council members on matters related to Commission and District Council operations and affairs.

ORGANIZATION

The Community Commission is a seven-member body whose members must be drawn from across the city and meet work- and experience-related requirements described in the ordinance. Commissioners are nominated by elected District Council members, selected by the Mayor of the City of Chicago, and confirmed by the City Council. Commissioners serve four-year terms. The Commission oversees the Police Department, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and the Police Board. The Commission's powers include playing a central role in selecting and removing the Police Superintendent, COPA Chief Administrator, and Police Board members; setting Police Department policy; establishing annual goals and evaluating progress for CPD, COPA, and the Police Board; and promoting community engagement and transparency.

District Councils have been created in each of the City's 22 police districts. Each District Council is made up of three people elected in regular municipal elections. Members serve four-year terms. The District Councils' roles include: building connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer, addressing problems, and setting priorities; collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives; holding monthly public meetings, where residents can raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, increase accountability, and work on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities; working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices; working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district; and ensuring that the Commission gets input from the community, so that the Commission's work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the City are concerned about.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent managerial and interpersonal skills, the ability to work strategically and collaboratively, demonstrated integrity, professionalism and sound Judgement. They will also possess the ability to work well with diverse groups, individuals and to work effectively under pressure.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Performs legal research and provides legal counsel to ensure that Commission and District Council policies, programs, and procedures are compliant with applicable laws, ordinances, and best practices.
• Conducts complex legal and policy research on new, existing, and/or proposed local, state, and federal laws and ordinances applicable to public safety accountability.
• Drafts and reviews Chicago Police Department policies.
• Reviews and analyzes legal trends in law enforcement and civil rights.
• Maintains working relationships with other governmental offices.
• Drafts briefs and reports on the status of legislation and other governmental initiatives.
• Provides legal support to the Commission and District Councils (e.g., reviewing legal documents, legislation, and contracts).
• Ensures Commission and District Council compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Open meetings Act.
• Conducts training for staff, Commissioners, and District Council members on relevant legal and policy issues.

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; other duties may be essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: 2 N, LaSalle St. Suite 960

Days: Monday-Friday (occasional evenings and weekends required.)

Hours: 9 am-5 pm

Salary: $112,608/YR

THIS POSITION IS NOT IN THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school plus two years of work experience in the legal profession as a licensed attorney and one year of work experience in policy development, policy analysis, or policy advocacy

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

* Admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar according to

* Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705)

NOTE: A writing sample of no more than ten (10) pages will be required at the time of interview

Writing Sample - All Writing samples submitted in consideration for employment must comply with the following criteria:

1. 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

1. Each writing sample submitted must be no more than (10) pages
2. Each writing sample must be accompanied by a cover page explaining:




1. the sample's original purpose (e.g., a writing class, a professional project, a memorandum for an employer, etc.).
2. when (MM/DD/YYYY) and for whom the sample was written.
3. the extent of editing by any third party; AND

if the writing sample is an excerpt from a larger document, identify that larger document and provide context, if necessary

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

* Knowledge of federal and state law governing police policies and practices

• Knowledge of the Illinois Open Meetings Act
• Knowledge of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act
• Knowledge of federal and state law governing police policies and practices
• Excellent written communication skills.

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. The Department of Human Resources 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.

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 for 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.

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 of Chicago Municipal Code. Proof of residency will be required.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ANY AND ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Please note, all positions with the City of Chicago close promptly at 11:59 pm C.D.T. Applications for this position will be accepted from March 17, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. C.D.T. on April 14, 2025. No exceptions will be made.