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.

Justice Ann Brackley Jorgensen of the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District, seeks a Judicial Secretary/Law Clerk for an opening in her chambers in Wheaton, Illinois.

BENEFITS: An attractive judicial branch employee benefits package is offered, including pension; medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, deferred compensation; and vacation. 

SALARY: $87,391 per year

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: The Judicial Secretary/Law Clerk conducts legal research and drafts memoranda, orders, and opinions for the justice. The position additionally requires administrative duties, including corresponding with the courthouse and other chambers, tracking the status of motions and cases, paying bills, and maintaining case files. Applicants must have exceptional organization skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school and licensed in Illinois or pending bar examination in Illinois. Prefer prior experience as a judicial law clerk and/or legal practitioner but will consider all applicants with an excellent academic record and superior research/writing skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time. This is a professional office working environment requiring telephone usage and the ability to process written documents.

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, one writing sample, law school transcript, and two references to justiceannjorgensen@gmail.com.  The position will remain open until filled.

The Third District Appellate Court has posted a job vacancy announcement for an Appellate Court Research Attorney position.  The job is located in Ottawa, Illinois. 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 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. Candidate 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 may be required to submit additional material or complete job specific tests for this position. 

Applicants' information should be submitted as soon as possible, but must be received by January 18, 2023. 

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that Judge Linda Davenport has been appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court, Third Judicial District, effective December 21, 2022.  Judge Davenport will fill the vacancy created by Justice Mary K. O'Brien's election to the Illinois Supreme Court.

In 2006, Judge Davenport was first appointed as an Associate Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.  She was reappointed in 2011 and 2015, and in 2018 won election as a Circuit Court Judge in the Eighteenth Circuit.

Before joining the bench, Judge Davenport spent 28 years in private practice. During that time, she also served as a hearing officer for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and a City Council Member in Wheaton, Illinois.  Judge Davenport earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and earned her Juris Doctor from the DePaul University College of Law.

The Illinois Supreme Court's announcement of Judge Davenport's appointment may be found here.  The ALA congratulates Judge Davenport on her appointment to the Third District.

Justice Eugene Daugherity of the Illinois Appellate Court, Third Judicial District, has retired, and the Illinois Supreme Court has assigned Justice Adrienne Albrecht to the Third District to fill that vacancy.  Justice Albrecht's assignment took effect December 12, 2022.

Justice Daugherity had been appointed to the Third District to fill the vacancy created by Justice Robert E. Carter's appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2020.  Justice Daugherity was first appointed to the bench in 2001 in the Circuit Court for Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.  He was elected to the circuit court in November 2002 and was retained in 2008, 2014, and 2020.  Justice Daugherity served as the Presiding Judge of the Civil Division in LaSalle County from January 2010 to his appointment to the appellate court.

Before joining the bench, Justice Daugherity worked in private practice in Ottawa, Illinois, since 1982.  Justice Daugherity earned his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University and his Juris Doctor from the DePaul University College of Law, where he graduated with honors.

Justice Albrecht served as a resident circuit judge on the Circuit Court for the Twenty-First Judicial Circuit in Kankakee County from 2006 until her retirement in 2022.  She won election in 2008 and retention in 2014. 

Before serving on the bench, Justice Albrecht worked for 26 years in private practice.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law.

The Illinois Supreme Court's announcement of Justice Albrecht's assignment to the Third District can be found here.  The ALA congratulates Justice Daugherity on his retirement and distinguished career, and congratulates Justice Albrecht on her assignment to the Third District.