Senior Assistant General Counsel, School Law Special Education

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The School Law Unit provides legal guidance to staff on a wide range of legal and policy issues affecting schools, including student records and privacy, the student code of conduct, student enrollment and transfers, school accountability, Local School Council issues, legislative review, charter school matters, and educational initiatives.

Job Summary: 

The Assistant General Counsel, Special Education will join the School Law Unit in the CPS Law office. This position will be responsible for advising the Office for Students with Disabilities and school-based administrators on special education matters. The Assistant General Counsel will report to the Deputy General Counsel, and will work closely with the Assistant Deputy General Counsel and Senior Assistant General Counsel. 

The Senior Assistant General Counsel will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Handling complex special education and school law matters;

• Assist with managing other Special Education Attorneys, ensuring that the team is delivering expert legal services to the client and developing cooperative and collaborative relationships with external partners. Managing staff will include:

  • Assigning matters to staff and managing the team’s caseload;

  • Ensuring the vision, strategy, and tone for responding to due process matters, mediation requests, State complaints, and 504 matters is aligned with CPS’ 5-year vision and goals around equity, integrity, and quality of instruction and CPS’ values around parent-involvement;

  • Developing attorneys and staff to be client-focused, solution orientated and in service toward of CPS mission, goals, and values, always keeping student success and well-being in mind;

  • Ensuring that the written work of attorneys and staff is professional, well-researched and even-toned consistent with District mission, goals and values;

  • Ensuring work is done in a timely manner consistent with CPS Rules and Policies, statutory and regulatory requirements, ISBE rules, and CPS’ mission, goals, and values.

  • Ensuring that staff timely implement orders and mediation and settlement agreements with central office and school staff;
     

• Represent CPS in special education matters, including due process hearings, mediations, and State complaints. This representation will include gathering evidence regarding matters, submitting written work product, preparing witnesses for hearings, and providing oral arguments.

• Actively participating/developing the continuous improvement of the Special Education Law Section in line with Law Department goals;

• Supporting school administrators with IEP and 504 meetings whenever the meetings include parent attorneys/advocates;

• Assisting with developing a system and database to effectively track, organize and report on all Special Education Law matters to Department Leadership. Trend data should be reviewed to assist with the development of policy and systemic recommendations for improvement of services;

• Interact with state and federal agencies to ensure compliance with legal mandates regarding students with disabilities;

• Conduct and support training for Clients regarding Due Process Complaints, Mediation Requests, 504 matters, and general special education legal concerns; and 

•  Assist the School Law Deputy General Counsel with special projects related to cross-functional work and new initiatives.

• Other duties as assigned 

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Senior Assistant General Counsel must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, required;

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school, required 

• Must be licensed and authorized to practice law and in good standing in the State of Illinois. 

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of five (5) years of legal practice required. 

• Knowledge of the Illinois School Code, State special education regulations, IDEA, ADA, and other laws supporting students with disabilities is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Experience managing attorneys and support staff; 

• Exceptional advocacy, analytical, oral and written communication skills;

• Ability to quickly analyze and prioritize problems and accurately decide when to escalate;

• Ability to build effective relationships throughout the Law Department and other Board departments;

• Ability to collaborate and be a creative problem solver and team player.

• Organizational skills and ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously under pressure; and

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, parents, advocacy groups, and governmental agencies.

• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, to expeditiously assess issues and provide sound legal advice.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.