Assistant General Counsel- Workers Compensation

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Posting Date

Jan 23, 2025, 8:51:19 PM

Primary Location

Central-42 West Madison Street (Law Office)

CPS Non-Union Job Grade: S09

Estimated Annual Salary Range

87,000.00 - 115,500.00

Position Type: Non-Union Position

Overtime Status

Exempt

Final salary offers are dependent upon candidate qualifications.

JOB DESCRIPTION

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 Board of Education’s Law Department operates under the supervision of the General Counsel, who has divided the Department into the following divisions: Administrative Hearings, Labor, Litigation, School Law, Transactions and Investigations. The Litigation Division has two units: State court litigation and federal litigation. The worker’s compensation practice is located within the state court litigation unit; although it frequently interacts with the Board’s Talent Department in order to handle claims filed against the Board in the Worker’s Compensation Commission.

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Deputy General Counsel, with support from the Assistant Deputy General and Senior Assistant General Counsels, the Assistant General Counsel (AGC) will represent CPS in matters pending in the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. The AGC will handle workers’ compensation cases, working directly with CPS’ third-party administrator (CCMSI) to advise on claims handling, strategy, and data analytics, as well as managing related recovery efforts like subrogation and affirmative litigation. The AGC will collaborate and provide guidance to appellate counsel on workers’ compensation matters. The AGC will work closely with CPS Talent’s workers’ compensation manager, CCMSI, and will partner with other stakeholders to coordinate benefits across units. The AGC will provide meaningful counsel to CPS leadership, informing policy decisions and resource allocation. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

This Job Will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Manage an active workers’ compensation caseload, exercising independent judgment on complex issues.
• Provide guidance to other assistant general counsels and staff.
• Provide counseling, advice, guidance, and support across a network of schools and departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, required.
• Must be licensed and authorized to practice law and in good standing in the state of Illinois.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of two (2) years of litigation experience, inclusive of internships, externships, and/or clerkships is required.
• Experience practicing and handling worker’s compensation cases is strongly preferred.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred: tort litigation, insurance defense, declaratory actions, breach of contract, and/or collections.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to successfully collaborate with supervisors, attorneys, and staff within the Law Department.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional, client-centered, and productive relationships with diverse groups of CPS departments, schools, and agents.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, integrity, sound judgment, initiative, and strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - listening, and writing).
• Proven ability to manage a caseload with significant financial and/or reputational exposure.
• Self-motivated with an ability to build trusting relationships with diverse groups of colleagues and clients.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage numerous cases and matters simultaneously under pressure.
• Ability to serve as a zealous advocate for CPS while concurrently maintaining the highest standards of integrity.
• Ability to quickly analyze a problem/question and decide the level of importance and when higher level intervention is necessary.
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.

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.

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