Assistant State’s Attorney, Clinical Forensics and Behavioral Health Unit

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney

Department: Legal Resources Bureau, Clinical Forensics and Behavioral Health Unit (CFBHU),

Location: Daley Center, county-wide as needed

Salary: $129,376 - $174,717. Salary 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.

Application Closes: June 12, 2026

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

Note: The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office does not provide relocation assistance.

Position Description: The CFBHU is seeking an Assistant State’s Attorney to prepare and litigate emergency orders of detention and examination, prosecute civil petitions for involuntary commitment and involuntary treatment and provide trainings on mental health law and available resources to the public, law enforcement and medical personnel.

Working Environment and Reporting Structure: Assistant State’s Attorneys assigned to the CFBHU will report directly to the Deputy Supervisor of the Unit and will work in conjunction with all of the members of the CFBHU.

Duties/Requirements: The primary responsibility of the Behavioral Health section of the CFBHU is to prepare and litigate civil mental health cases. Other responsibilities include working collaboratively with hospitals, police departments, mental health service providers and civilians involved in the mental health court system. The CFBHU unit also provides training and community outreach on mental health services provided by our office.

This assignment includes litigating civil mental health cases. In this role, the ASA will be expected to vertically prosecute cases and will therefore be responsible for the following;

• Coordinate with hospitals to provide patient updates to the court on involuntary commitment and involuntary treatment cases filed in Cook County
• Review medical records and related documents in preparation for trial on involuntary commitment and involuntary treatment cases
• Conduct witness interviews to ascertain facts of case, prepare lay and expert witnesses for hearing, assemble case files, litigate pre-trial hearings, file or respond to pre-trial motions and handle all related court matters including subpoenas, testimony, and hearings to completion;
• Draft legal documents including memorandum, motions, responses, petitions, orders and briefs;
• Coordinate with crisis intervention trained law enforcement officers, social workers and Mental Health Service Provider partner agencies on cases when appropriate, and
• Provide community outreach and citizen trainings on issues of mental health.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must possess a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
• Must be a member in good standing with the Illinois bar
• Must have six to ten years of experience.
• Prior experience working on cases involving mental health issues, experience interviewing witnesses and medical professionals, and significant trial experience is recommended.
• Must uphold the law, support victims, and protect the rights of all-fairly, ethically and effectively.

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

EEO Message: 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.