Special Education Litigation Staff Attorney II

• Conducts legal reviews of Special Education cases to determine eligibility for Legal Advocacy representation.  Provides systemic litigation and advocacy services for eligible and accepted Special Education cases, including but not limited to Meditation cases and Due Process Special Education cases. 

• Determines eligible persons’ rights and initiates or participates in legal procedures to enforce compliance with Federal and State Special Education Law, Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code and related mental health laws. 

• Provides brief written and telephone advice, oral and written advocacy, direct representation at IEP meetings, medications and expulsion hearings, direct representation in due process hearings in State and Federal court. 

• Maintains accurate case files, notes, case status and data in our internal case management system. 

• Provide the general public with trainings and information regarding issues related to Special Education Law and the activities and services provided by Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission. 

• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above. 

• Requires two (2) years' of Special Education litigation and representation experience. 

• Requires two (2) years' experience as lead counsel in bench and/or jury trials providing direct client representation and services. 

• Requires graduation from a recognized law school. 

• Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois. 

• Prefers two (2) years of Special Education litigation and representation experience. 

• Prefers two (2) years' experience as lead counsel in bench and/or jury trials providing direct client representation and services. 

• Prefers four (4) years in drafting, filing, arguing and defending petitions and motions. Excellent oral and written communication skills needed. 

• Prefers two (2) years of experience with relevant administrative, statutory and case law reference at administrative, trial and appellate levels. 

• Prefers four (4) years of advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Lexis Nexus, Westlaw or other legal research platforms, Zoom, and WebEx. 

• Prefers three (3) experience in preparing for and conducting weekly motion hearings, interpreting rules, regulations and relevant case law and proposing solutions to administrative and legal questions. 

• Prefers three (3) years’ experience in technical research and writing detailed reports. 

• Prefers two (2) years reviewing medical records, interviewing and preparing witnesses for trial, interviewing expert witnesses, interviewing lay witnesses. 

• Prefers two (2) years in public speaking and educational training, including, coordinating and disseminating of information to service providers, community groups, and professional associations concerning legal representation of persons with disabilities and or recipients of mental health services, with the enhanced ability to adjust the level of communication to the target audience. 

• Prefers two (2) years' experience in preparing for and conducting trials on a weekly basis. 

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. 

• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties. 

• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends. 

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history. 

 The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.