Overview

The Executive Ethics Commission of the State of Illinois seeks applicants for an Attorney position with our legal team.

The Executive Ethics Commission (EEC) is a nine-member commission. Five commissioners are appointed by the Governor, and one commissioner each is appointed by the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. The Commission promotes ethics in public service and ensures that the State’s business is conducted with efficiency, transparency, fairness, and integrity by facilitating compliance, implementation, and enforcement of the State Officials and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"). The Commission is responsible, with the advice and consent of the State Senate, for appointing Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs), who provide oversight of certain executive branch procurements pursuant to the Procurement Code.

The Assistant General Counsel, under the direction of the Chief Legal Counsel for Procurement, assists with the provision of legal services to the Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) and the Executive Ethics Commission (EEC) to conduct and maintain operations as prescribed by law.

Job Responsibilities

Under direction of the Chief Legal Counsel for Procurement:

• Research legal issues and provide legal analysis, advice, and counsel to the Chief Legal Counsel for Procurement on legal matters relevant to the Illinois Procurement Code; the CPOs’ administrative rules; additional procurement-related statutes, regulations, policies, procedures, and bills; the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act; the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); other laws and regulations; and other issues pertaining to the functioning of the EEC. Drafts legal memoranda and briefs.
• Assists Protest Review Officer (PRO) with reviewing protests; drafting recommended determinations for protests for the CPOs’ consideration; and communicating with protestors, agencies, and interested parties. May be appointed as a PRO as appropriate and necessary.
• Assists with responses to procurement-related FOIA requests and offers guidance on FOIA and other records-related issues.
• Conducts hearings on behalf of, or at the direction of, the CPOs or EEC Executive Director and prepares recommended decisions.
• Provides litigation support and coordination with the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
• Helps coordinate litigation-related activities for general matters involving CPOs and their respective staffs.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Job Responsibilities (cont)

Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability
• Communication
• Confidentiality
• Consultative Relationship Building
• Legal Expertise
• Legal Writing, Analysis, and Research
• Organization
• Strategy and Advising

Required Education, Skills, and Experience

• Possess a Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association accredited law school*
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois*
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal and external constituencies
• Experience conducting legal research and analysis

• Recent or pending graduates may initially be hired as a Law Clerk if they have received, or are within 6 months of receiving, a Juris Doctorate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. A Law Clerk has up to 12 months after receiving the Juris Doctorate in which to obtain a license to practice law in the State of Illinois.

Preferred Education, Skills, and Experience

• 1+ years of legal experience in a single or combination of the following settings: law firm, government, higher education, corporate, or other complex organization
• Experience with government procurement, conflict of interest and other ethics‐related laws, the Freedom of Information Act, and other areas of administrative law
• Working knowledge of the functions of state government and the character of relationships between the branches of State government, among State agencies and officers, and between the State and other levels of government
• Demonstrated interest in, enthusiasm for, and commitment to public service

Physical/Mental Demands

This is a largely sedentary role. While performing the essential functions of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand and/or sit for long periods of time, often remaining in a stationary position in front of a computer. Additionally, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, type and engage in repetitive motion, reach and grasp; occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is rarely required to stoop or crouch, push or pull, or kneel. Specific vision abilities required in this role include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

This role requires mental alertness. The employee must regularly communicate both verbally and written, concentrate on tasks, and observe and remember details. The employee must frequently adjust to changes, handle stress and emotions, and think analytically.

Office Information

The members of the legal team work in a collaborative environment subject to the direction of the Chief Legal Counsel for Procurement. The work location is an office setting, requiring business casual or business dress attire. This position will be headquartered at the EEC's Executive & Professional Services Office located at 401 South Spring Street, William Stratton Building, Suite 513 in Springfield, Illinois.

Benefits

This position is eligible to be a member of the State of Illinois Group Insurance program which includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage options. Additionally, this position will annually accrue 12 paid sick days, a minimum of 10 paid vacation days, 3 paid personal days, and be afforded 13 paid state holidays, prorated based on start date.

Equal Opportunity and Commitment to Diversity

The Executive Ethics Commission provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.

The Executive Ethics Commission is committed to the fair and equal employment of individuals with disabilities under the ADA. It is the Executive Ethics Commission’s policy to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the company. The Executive Ethics Commission prohibits any harassment of, or discriminatory treatment of, employees or applicants based on a disability or because an employee has requested a reasonable accommodation.

The Executive Ethics Commission is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the agency and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. This commitment is embodied in agency policy and organizational culture.

NOTE: This is a non-code position. This position is not subject to collective bargaining and does not require a current grade from Central Management Services.