PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Plans, directs, and participates in legal matters as they relate to employment and labor issues and other matters on behalf of the Authority.
- Handles own caseload of cases and other matters.
- Initiates, researches, and drafts pleadings, discovery requests and responses, briefs, and internal memoranda.
- Makes frequent appearances before courts and administrative agencies.
- Obtains and defends depositions and conducts other discovery.
- Prepares witnesses for depositions, hearings, arbitrations and trials. Provides advice to management on labor/employment matters.
- Caseload shifting may occur from high-volume to fewer, more substantial cases (e.g., Law Division and Federal Court cases), which require more sophisticated strategies and legal analysis.
- Works with more senior attorneys in “second chair” capacity on large litigation, labor/employment, and other matters. Serves an integral role in these assignments, typically preparing and responding to discovery requests, examining witnesses, drafting and arguing motions, and researching issues.
- Conducts research for the purpose of advising client departments. May provide advice and counsel directly to client departments. Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays current with new legal developments, trends, and innovations.
- Manages work of paralegals and other support staff assigned to his/her projects. Verifies work for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques and compliance with legal standards and practices.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to this position may include the following jobs:
Job Title
- Paralegal
- Administrative Support
CHALLENGES
- Keeping abreast of new trends and innovations in the legal field.
- Maintaining good working relationships and communicating effectively with client departments and staff on all levels to achieve Authority goals and objectives.
- Managing multiple tasks simultaneously and handling stressful situations.
- Providing legal advice efficiently and accurately on behalf of the Authority.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited school of law and licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, plus three (3) years of experience as a practicing attorney, of which one (1) year of experience was spent specializing in employment or labor laws, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Required to maintain appropriate continuing legal education credits.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
- Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Detailed knowledge of applicable federal and state laws.
- Detailed knowledge of principles and methods in drafting legal documents.
- Detailed knowledge of the methods and practices of legal research and investigation, judicial procedure, and the rules of evidence.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including work processing functions.
- Strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively interrelate with Authority personnel of all levels and the public.
- Strong editing and drafting skills, and great attention to detail.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Strong leadership and teamwork skills.
- Strong verbal and in written communication skills.
- Strong analytical skills necessary for competent legal interpretation.
- Strong managerial and administrative skills to direct and coordinate the activities of the work team.
- Ability to coordinate multiple requests simultaneously while meeting multiple deadlines.
- Ability to provide effective solutions to CTA issues with integrity, initiative and creativity.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and possess analytical skills necessary for competent legal interpretation.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- General office environment.
- Makes regular site visits to non-office locations (e.g., court and CTA field locations)
EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED
- Standard office equipment.
- Personal computer, telephone, trial visual aids equipment, on-line legal research, and litigation support software.