Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

Unified trial court system for Cook County

Senior Division Attorney - Domestic Relations Division

Legal Counsel & Legal SupportConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeChicago, IL, USA$123.7kIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A Juris Doctor degree and active Illinois law license are required.
Experience in and demonstrated understanding of the law and practice applicable to matters heard by the judges of the division.
An understanding of the role, function, and working of the Circuit Court.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders.
Ability to meet the physical requirements, including sitting at a desk for long periods, intermittently reaching around the desk, performing simple grasping and fine manipulation, lifting files up to 20 pounds, and using a telephone and computer keyboard daily.
Successful completion of required pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check; use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and disqualifies candidates.

Responsibilities

Supervise and coordinate division law clerks in providing legal research to Division judges, including answering immediate legal questions, preparing bench memoranda, drafting orders and opinions, proofreading judicial orders and opinions, and verifying citations.
Coordinate law clerks’ preparation of legal updates for judges, including monthly case summaries of published appellate cases in the First District and unpublished Rule 23 orders relevant to domestic relations or family law across Illinois.
Monitor pending and proposed legislation affecting the division and compile and distribute quarterly legislative updates.
Present case and legislative updates at regular Division judge meetings, on a schedule determined by the Presiding Judge, and assist judges who wish to present briefings on novel or complicated issues recently presented in their courtrooms.
Work with the Presiding Judge to plan seminars, stakeholder conferences, and other committees related to improving Division services.
Help connect self-represented litigants with legal aid agencies, self-help resources, and social services as needed, and maintain accurate resource packets with the Domestic Relations Division Court Administrator.
Assist judges in ensuring self-represented litigants understand orders and in monitoring or responding to their communications when permissible and appropriate.
Coordinate with on-site legal aid agencies to ensure resources provided to self-represented litigants are accurate.
Coordinate with Clerk of the Circuit Court staff to ensure resources for self-represented litigants are accurate and accessible and reflect common courtroom issues or concerns.
Work with the Presiding Judge and Administrator to assess training needs on an ongoing basis and develop and present relevant subject-matter training consistent with best practices for judicial and non-judicial court personnel.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Presiding Judge.

Desired Qualifications

Prior law clerkship, clinical experience, or 7–11 practical experience is preferred, with subject-matter experience strongly preferred.
One to two years of professional experience is strongly preferred.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION:               SENIOR DIVISION ATTORNEY
GRADE:   20
SALARY:                  $123,683
LOCATION: RICHARD J. DALEY CENTER
50 WEST WASHINGTON STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602

JOB SUMMARY AND DUTIES: The Senior Division Attorney reports to the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division. The position requires a strong commitment to access to justice, a highly professional demeanor, and sound judgment.

Responsibilities include:
Research Services and Judicial Support

Supervises and coordinates the division law clerks in providing legal research to all Division judges, including responding to immediate questions of law, preparing bench memos, drafting orders and opinions, proofreading the judge's orders and opinions, verifying citations.
Coordinates the preparation by the division law clerks of legal updates to the judges, including case summaries of published appellate cases in the 1st District, unpublished opinions that relate to domestic Relations or relevant family law across the state (Rule 23 orders) on a monthly basis.
Monitors pending and proposed legislation impacting the division; compiles and distributes legislative updates on a quarterly basis.
Presents case updates and legislative updates at regular Division judge meetings, on a schedule to be determined by the Presiding Judge. Assists Division Judges who wish to present case briefings on novel or complicated issues presented recently in their courtrooms.

Community Liaison

Works with Presiding Judge to facilitate planning seminars, stakeholder conferences, and other committees related to improving Division services.
Assists in connecting self-represented litigants with legal aid agencies, self-help resources and social services as necessary. Maintain accurate resource packets in coordination with the Domestic Relations Division Court Administrator.
Assists judges in ensuring self-represented litigants understand orders as entered. Assists judges in monitoring or responding to communication from self-represented litigants were permissible and appropriate.
Coordinates with on-site legal aid agencies where appropriate to ensure accuracy in resources provided to self-represented litigants.
Coordinates with Clerk of the Circuit Court staff to ensure resources provided self-represented litigants are accurate, accessible and reflect common issues or concerns raised in courtrooms.
In coordination with the Presiding Judge and the Administrator, assesses training needs on an ongoing basis; develops and presents relevant subject matter training that adheres to best practices for judicial and non-judicial court personnel.
Such other duties as may be assigned by the Presiding Judge

The duties listed are not set forth for the purpose of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the duties to be performed under the job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Juris Doctor degree and active Illinois law license required. Prior law clerkship, clinical or 7-11 practical experience preferred, with subject matter experience strongly preferred. 1-2 years’ professional experience strongly preferred
Experience in and demonstrated understanding of the law and practice applicable to matters heard by the judges of the division.
An understanding of the role, function, and working of the Circuit Court
Ability to work in a fast- paced environment
Highly collegial and demonstrated ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Working conditions/physical requirements:

On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods in front of a computer screen;
Intermittently twist to reach equipment or supplies surrounding desk;
Perform simple grasping and fine manipulation;
Strength to lift files weighing up to 20 pounds;
Use telephone and computer keyboard on a daily basis.

This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required screening criteria. Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment.

Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page.

Please apply by filling out the application at our Career Page.

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

Revised: December, 2025

About the Company

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

Unified trial court system for Cook County

The Circuit Court of Cook County is Illinois' trial court system for residents, businesses and other parties in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Its judges hear civil, criminal, family and juvenile matters, with divisions organized around the kind of dispute or proceeding. The court combines countywide divisions with geographic districts so cases can be heard across the county under a unified administration. Beyond hearings and judgments, its administrative offices oversee probation, court reporting and language interpreting to support proceedings and carry out court orders. The unified court was established in 1964 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Founded: 1964

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