SENIOR REGIONAL COUNSEL

Job Requisition ID: 51560

Closing Date: 12/22/2025

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Class Title: PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - 37015

Skill Option: Special License - Illinois Law License

Bilingual Option: None

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $9,167 - $10,500/month

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time

County: Peoria; Tazewell

Number of Vacancies: 1

Bargaining Unit Code: None

Merit Comp Code: Managerial Exclusion from RC010 Collective Bargaining Coverage

A resume is highly encouraged to evaluate your qualifications and skills as part of your application. Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application if you decide to provide one.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Senior Regional Counsel
• Interviews Department witnesses
• Evaluates cases involving clients where the Department is involved in court or seeking expunction or indication
• Serves as legal advisor to regional field staff
• Plans, directs, and conducts technical legal screening and provides case consultation to caseworkers andsupervisors to help prepare cases for termination of parental rights (TPR), to determine when cases are trial ready for TPR
• Serves as Department liaison to judiciary, State’s Attorney’s Offices, and various court personnel in numerous counties in the region
• Maintains current working knowledge of new legislation, Department rules and policy, and all relevant law
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois
• Requires three years of experience in the practice of law

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers experience as an attorney in cases involving child welfare or juvenile law
• Prefers experience as an attorney presenting and arguing legal cases in court and/or administrative hearings
• Prefers experience as an attorney conducting legal analysis
• Prefers substantive legal writing experience as an attorney in the areas of motions, pleadings, briefs, and memoranda
• Prefers professional experience working in a liaison capacity with various internal and external entities
• Prefers thorough knowledge of Illinois statutes and rules that have a substantial impact on Illinois juvenile court proceedings and/or DCFS’s administrative hearings

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires the ability to pass a background check.

2. Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.

3. Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

4. This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

5. The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus. The Office of Legal Services works in a supportive capacity to ensure Departmental adherence to all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and court orders.

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A Pension Program
• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
  • Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)

For more information about our benefits please follow this link:

Work Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

Work Location: 5415 N University St, Peoria, Illinois, 61614

Agency Contact: Michael Bernardy

[email protected] (for questions only)

Posting Group: Legal, Audit & Compliance

Revolving Door –

Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this
position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during
State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall,
prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive
Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]