Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney, Gun Crime Strategies Unit

Reports to: Supervisor, Gun Crime Strategies Unit

Grade: AY3 to AY1

Salary: $110,418 - $167,943 Salary range is provided by law; however, individual compensation is based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, years and quality of experience. Any salary offered is determined by the Chief of Staff and is non-negotiable.

Location: Leighton Courthouse, 2650 S. California

Bureau: Multi-Jurisdictional

Division: Gun Crimes

Application Deadline: September 18, 2025

Note: The Cook County State's Attorney's Office does not sponsor H1-B work visa petitions.

Position Description: The Gun Crime Strategies Unit (GCSU) is seeking an Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA) to vertically prosecute serious gun-related cases and gun-related violent crime. The ASA will be assigned to a Chicago Police Area to collaborate with the Bureau of Detectives, develop intelligence, and build relationships. GCSU ASAs also collaborate with federal law enforcement, including the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) members and the US Attorney’s Office. GCSU ASAs are expected to review long-term, complex and cross-jurisdictional gun-related violent crime investigations.

Working Environment & Reporting Structure: Assistant State’s Attorneys assigned to the GCSU report directly to the Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor of the Unit and work closely with other members of the GCSU. The GCSU is part of the Multi-Jurisdiction Bureau.

Duties/Requirements: The Gun Crime Strategies Unit is seeking an ASA to implement intelligence-driven prosecution strategies and vertically prosecute serious gun-related cases and gun-related violent crime. We are seeking a first or second chair ASA in the CCSAO to be assigned to the Unit. The primary responsibility of the GCSU is to prosecute individuals that are involved in serious gun-related offenses and violent crime in Cook County, and to help develop and implement strategies to address these priority crime problems. GCSU ASAs will be assigned cases ranging from gun possession charges to murder. In carrying out its mission, GCSU works closely with the Chicago Police Department (in particular, Area and District Commanders and District Intelligence Officers in high crime districts), federal law enforcement agencies, suburban police agencies, the Crime Gun Intelligently Center, community stakeholders and ASAs throughout the Office. GCSU also works closely with the Community Justice Centers, Complex Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Homicide Units providing pre- and post-arrest case support. In this role, the ASA will be assigned to cover a certain geographical area in Chicago and spend substantial time within that Area attending briefings at the police station, interviewing officers with knowledge of that area to gain a deep understanding of the crime situation and develop contacts with community members in that area. The ASA will also be required to apply for and become cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA).

Minimum Qualifications:

• The candidate must possess significant investigative support and litigation experience as an attorney;
• Preference will be given to attorneys who have been felony review trial supervisors;
• Strong research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
• Strong organizational skills and great attention to detail;
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to coordinate with multiple law enforcement agencies;
• Sound judgment, critical thinking, analytical, and effective time management skills;
• Must uphold the mission and values of the Office at all times and support attorneys in doing the same;
• Commitment to applying a vertical prosecution model including long-term investigation and complex trials with multiple crimes and defendants;
• Willingness to be vetted for assignment as a Special United States Attorney and willingness to partner closely with local and Federal law enforcement and Federal prosecutors; and
• Must be highly motivated and have strong leadership skills and the ability to promote team building.

Cover Letter: In your cover letter, please answer the three following questions:

1. Why are you interested in this particular role?

2. What in your professional experience has prepared you to succeed in a unit focused on proactive investigative review and support?

3. What experience do you have with vertical prosecution? What do you believe are the benefits of vertical prosecution?

Physical Requirements:

Light work. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is an equal opportunity employer, which seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The CCSAO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request, the CCSAO will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals due to a disability or pregnancy. The EEOP report can be found on our website at www.cookcountystatesattorney.org.

Benefits

At Cook County, we believe in investing in you, our valued employee. We understand that your well-being directly impacts the quality of service we provide to our community. That's why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial stability, and work-life balance. Here's a snapshot of what we offer:

Choose from a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans to best suit your lifestyle and needs. We provide a robust Paid Time Off (PTO) program, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, as well as 13 paid holidays. As a public service employer, our employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Our Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling and referral services to help you navigate life's challenges. And of course, a pension plan through Cook County.

Follow this link to the Cook County Benefits and this link to Cook County Pension Fund if you want to learn more about our amazing benefit coverage. The CCSAO does not provide relocation assistance.