Post-Graduate Law Clerk

The Office of the Illinois Attorney General is seeking third-year law students or recent graduates intending to take or having just taken the Illinois Bar Exam to serve in a paid post-graduate law clerk position in our Office after taking the exam. The General Law Bureau represents the interests of the State of Illinois and its people in civil trial litigation. The Bureau functions as a defense law firm for the State of Illinois, its officers, agencies and employees. Examples of the areas of law include personal injury, property damage, and injunction cases, administrative hearings and reviews, declaratory judgment actions, federal and state civil rights cases and class actions.

Post-Graduates will obtain and use a student practice license pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 to defend cases brought against State of Illinois agencies, employees and officers.  Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, they will assist in the response to complaints, drafting of pleadings, drafting and responding to motions, managing written and electronic discovery, conducting depositions, and representing client interests in administrative hearings and various state and federal courts.  Travel is required. 

Candidates must have excellent research and writing skills.  Ideal candidates must have strong organization and time-management skills, exercise sound judgment, and be able to work independently.  Applicants must sit for and take the Illinois Bar Exam prior to their start date.

Salary:   Salaries for this position is $54,000 per year. Upon being sworn in to practice law in Illinois, the individual will be eligible for promotion to Assistant Attorney General, where salaries start at $82,000 per year.

To apply, please complete the online application and attach the following: 

1. resume, 
2. cover letter, 
3. writing sample (litigation-type sample is preferred), 
4. law school transcript, and 
5. signed background check authorization form.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us:

Attn: Thor Y. Inouye
Office of the Illinois Attorney General
115 S. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 814-3695
(312) 814-5024 (Fax)
attorneyhiring@ilag.gov