The Office of the State Appellate Defender (OSAD) is establishing a panel program to use private attorneys licensed in Illinois to represent clients in appeals under the Pre-Trial Fairness Act (PFA). Appeals will typically challenge the trial court's decision to either detain a defendant before trial or to impose conditions of pre-trial release. Contract attorneys will be responsible for reading the record on appeal and filing a memorandum in the appellate court making any necessary arguments on behalf of the client. OSAD will remain counsel of record and will provide guidance and clerical support in preparing and filing these appeals. Compensation will be $1000.00 per case. If the appellate court requests oral argument, which we expect will be very rare, additional compensation on an hourly basis will be available. Minority law firms are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are interested in participating in the panel program and would like further information, please email your contact information to PFAPanelAttorneys@osad.state.il.us.

The Third District Appellate Court has posted a job vacancy announcement for an Appellate Court Research Attorney position in Ottawa, IL.  The information contained in the posting can be found below:

Salary: $71,737 per year

Benefits: An attractive judicial branch benefits package is offered, including pension, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as deferred compensation and generous leave time.

Essential Duties: This position involves legal research and drafting of appellate opinions for seven justices.

Experience, Education, and Training Requirements: Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association is required. Candidates must have excellent writing and analytical ability. License to practice law in the State of Illinois is preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements:  Ability to sit for extended time periods. Professional office working environment requiring telephone usage and the ability to process written documents. 

Interested individuals should submit, via email, a letter of interest, resume with GPA, and a writing sample to: ldonahue@illinoiscourts.gov.

Applicants' information should be submitted as soon as possible but must be received by April 3, 2023.

The Fourth District Appellate Court has posted a job vacancy announcement for an Appellate Court Research Attorney position.  The information contained in the posting can be found below:

Salary: $71,737 per year

Benefits: An attractive judicial branch benefits package is offered, including pension, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as deferred compensation and earned leave time.

Essential Duties: This position involves legal research, analysis, and writing, reviewing, and assisting in the drafting of judicial orders and opinions.

Experience, Education, and Training Requirements: Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association is required. Candidates must possess superior research, analytical, and writing skills. Candidates must have strong information technology skills including proficiency with commonly used office software such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat. Competence in the use of web-based case management software and the ability to perform electronic legal research is also required.  Practicing attorneys and recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Fully remote work is possible for candidates with comparable experience.

Physical Requirements:  Ability to sit for extended time periods. 

Interested individuals should submit, via email, a letter of interest, resume, professional writing sample, and official or unofficial law school transcript, and three references to: ac_district4_clerk@illinoiscourts.gov. 

This position will remain open until filled. However, those individuals submitting materials by March 30, 2023 will be given first consideration. 

Justice Mathias W. Delort of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, is seeking a Law Clerk/Judicial Secretary to serve in his chambers in Chicago, Illinois.  This appointment is for a term that expires September 1, 2023.  The annual salary for the position is $87,391.

The Law Clerk/Judicial Secretary conducts legal research and drafts memoranda, orders, and opinions for the justice.  Duties also include reviewing and editing the work of other clerks.  The position also requires sharing administrative duties with the other clerks, including but not limited to, corresponding with other courts and chambers, tracking the status of motions and cases, paying bills, maintaining case files, and keeping the library up to date.

Applicants must be licensed attorneys admitted to the Illinois bar.  Law Review/journal experience is preferred.  Preference will be given to those with prior experience as a judicial law clerk and/or appellate lawyer or as a legal practitioner, but all applicants with an outstanding academic record and superior research and writing skills will be considered.  Excellent computer and technology skills are required.

Applications will be accepted until March 8, 2023.  Those interested should submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and references to Frank Dermody at fdermody@illinoiscourts.gov.

Additional details regarding the position may be found here.

The Illinois Appellate Court, First Judicial District, is accepting applications for a Research Attorney position.  Research Attorneys research and analyze applicable law and prepare draft orders and memoranda in matters before the appellate court.

Applicants must be graduates of an ABA-accredited law school and possess excellent research, case analysis, and writing skills.  Practicing attorneys and recent graduates with a passion for legal writing and an interest in appellate practice and criminal law are encouraged to apply.

Interested individuals should submit a resume, writing sample, an official or unofficial law school transcript, and a letter of interest stating how the candidate’s experience and qualifications connect with the position, via e-mail, to courtemployment@illinoiscourts.gov no later than March 20, 2023.

Additional details regarding the position may be found here.

Chief Judge Diane Sykes will be moderating a Panel Discussion with the Seventh Circuit's Newest Judges: Judge Thomas L. Kirsch, II, Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, Judge John Z. Lee, and Judge Doris L. Pryor.

The program will take place at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL at 3:00 p.m. on March 2, 2023. 

Interested individuals must register by February 15, 2023, using this link: Registration Link

The First District Appellate Court is seeking a judicial law clerk to perform legal research, analysis and writing and to review and assist in drafting of judicial opinions, orders, and other legal documents.  The annual salary is $96,754.

Eligible applicants should have a working knowledge of, and ability to apply, federal and state laws and court decisions to pending legal cases; working knowledge of, and ability to apply, court procedures and rules of evidence; skill in providing legal research and preparing memorandum of law providing legal and procedural advice; skill in analyzing legal issues and writing persuasively; ability to communicate effectively; ability to apprise the Justice of new statutes and recent legislation changes.

To qualify for this position, the applicant must have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, be admitted to the Illinois Bar, and have a minimum of one year of appellate practice experience as an appellate court clerk or attorney at a private firm or government office. Preference will be given to those individuals with either three or more years’ experience of appellate court brief writing or a criminal appellate background.

This position requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.  This is a professional office working environment requiring telephone usage and the ability to process written documents.  Applicant must possess the ability to travel throughout the state, including overnight stays as required.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest, resume, professional writing sample, a transcript of law school grades and 2 references to:

Justice Bertina E. Lampkin, First District Appellate Court, Attn: Noreen Beirne

160 North LaSalle Street, Suite N1509, Chicago, IL 60601

This position will remain open until filled. However, those individuals submitting materials by March 2, 2023 will be given first consideration. 

The Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is seeking volunteer judges for its Midwest Regional competition on February 10-12, 2023. The competition will take place at Loyola University School of Law Chicago. The Jessup International Moot Court Competition is a simulation of a case before the International Court of Justice. 

Please email midwest@ilsa.org if you are available and interested in volunteering.

The Illinois Appellate Court, Third Judicial District, is accepting applications for the position of Clerk of the Court.  This is a highly responsible professional, supervisory, and administrative position.

The Clerk is responsible for administering all phases of work in docketing case flow management and other areas of operations necessary to execute the responsibilities of the office.  Duties include supervising the filing and intake of court documents, overseeing the oral argument calendar, managing budget expenditures and procurement, supervising and managing staff,  coordinating the administrative functions of the court, and conferring with court justices about court policy and planning.  This position requires an on-site presence at the courthouse in Ottawa, Illinois, Monday through Friday, and on weekends as duties may require.

Applicants must have a J.D. and a minimum of five years' progressively responsible experience or training in the processing of litigating either trial or appellate court cases.  

Additional details about the position, including how to apply, may be found in the following vacancy announcement.  Applications must be received on or before February 7, 2023.

Justice Judy Cates of the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth Judicial District, is accepting applications for an in-chambers appellate court judicial secretary/law clerk in St. Clair County, Illinois.  The duties include legal research and analysis, and the drafting of judicial opinions, orders, and memoranda. The position also requires performance of administrative duties, including correspondence with the courthouse and other chambers, maintenance of court files, tracking of motions and cases, and other duties as assigned.  The annual salary is $87,391. 

Applicants must be graduates of an ABA-accredited law school with strong academic records; superior skills in legal research, analysis, and writing; the ability to work independently; familiarity with Microsoft Office programs; outstanding communication, computer, and organizational skills; and the ability to utilize electronic platforms, including videoconferencing, and related technology.  Writing experience, such as Law Review, or similar journal experience, is preferred, but not required.  Preference will be given to those with an Illinois law license, and prior experience as a judicial law clerk or research attorney.

The position will be available on March 13, 2023, and will remain open until filled, although those submitting applications before February 3, 2023, will be given first consideration.  Interested individuals should submit - via e-mail - a cover letter, resume (including the applicant's GPA, class rank and bar status), one complex writing sample (not just a simple motion), and three references to: mmurphy@illinoiscourts.gov.

Additional information about the position may be found here.