Legal Counsel - Early Intervention (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)

Job Requisition ID: 56156
Opening Date: 05/15/2026
Closing Date: 06/01/2026
Agency: Department of Early Childhood
Class Title: PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - 37015 
Skill Option: Special License - Illinois Law License 
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $8,500 - $10,000 per month ($102,000 - $120,000 per year)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Cook
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: None
Merit Comp Code: Confidential (Management Bill) Exclusion from RC010 Collective Bargaining Coverage

 

A resume is highly encouraged to evaluate your qualifications and skills as part of your application.  Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application if you decide to provide one.

 

Position Overview:   
The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is seeking a dynamic, organized, detail-oriented licensed attorney in Illinois to serve as the Legal Counsel for Early Intervention. The Legal Counsel will perform professional legal services in support of the Department’s programs, including, but not limited to, conducting research, providing legal advice, producing legal opinions, findings, and recommendations related to Early Childhood and specifically Early Intervention. This individual will be responsible for reviewing, developing, and revising rules, regulations, agency policies, and pertinent State and Federal statutes relevant to Department programs. The employee in this position will work collaboratively with staff in the Legal Division to maintain agency compliance with relevant statutes, guidelines, and mandates. 

 

Illinois Department of Early Childhood offers a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday schedule
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid Parental leave
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs
• Employees earn (12) paid sick days annually
• (10-25) paid vacation days (based on years of service)
• Employees earn (3) paid personal days (pro-rated based on start date)
• (13-14) paid state holidays annually

Work hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon by supervisor during the onboarding process.

 

Why Work for Illinois?
Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.
No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Legal Counsel for the Early Intervention Program for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).
• Collaborates with other program staff in the Legal Division and other department staff to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations for all IDEC programs.
• Collaborates with Early Intervention on external matters.
• Drafts proposed bills, amendments, resolutions, procedures, rules, and regulations impacting the overall operating status of Early Intervention.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited law school.
• Requires Illinois license to practice law.
• Requires three (3) years of professional legal experience for a public or business organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years of professional legal experience working with statutes, administrative rules, case law, and other legal literature.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible legal experience reviewing proposed legislation, amendments, resolutions, procedures, rules and regulations for a public or private organization.
• Three (3) years of professional legal experience developing and presenting oral and written legal opinions.
• One (1) year of professional experience communicating with internal and external stakeholders, i.e. multiple levels of government or non-profit organizations.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.  
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Requires the ability to use and maintain state-issued equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, and other necessary equipment as required.
• 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.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

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

Agency Statement

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was signed into law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state. During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC has been working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026. Illinois strives to be the best state in the nation to raise a family with young children, and IDEC is committed to continue putting children and families front and center, reducing complexities, and finding efficiencies in the system while advancing equity.  

​Work Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30a-5:00p
Headquarter Location: 115 S Lasalle St, Chicago, Illinois, 60603
Work County: Cook
Email: dec.jobs@illinois.gov
Posting Group: Legal, Audit & Compliance; Leadership & Management; Social Services

Revolving Door:
Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.

 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.
If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.
State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. 
Non-State employees should log in using the “View Profile” link at the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.  If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.
If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:
State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid.
Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.
State employees should include temporary assignment in the application profile. Temporary assignment verification forms can be uploaded to the Additional Documents section.

 

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
• systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com