Persons interested in applying for employment with the Office of the State Appellate Defender should submit a resume and cover letter to the appropriate office as shown below.

Position:  Staff Attorney, Juvenile Defender Resource Center

Status: Full-Time, Hybrid Work Schedule

The Illinois Juvenile Defender Resource Center (JDRC), a division of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, has an opening for a Staff Attorney. 

The JDRC was created by the Illinois General Assembly to support the work of attorneys representing youth in delinquency and criminal court and to study and implement model systems for the delivery of juvenile defender services in Illinois. (725 ILCS 105/10(c)(6)). The Center provides defender-driven support for attorneys representing youth in conflict with the law, including cost-free, comprehensive continuing legal education programs; an attorney support hotline; research assistance; case law and legislative updates; and connections to expert witnesses, social workers, and investigators.

Duties, Responsibilities, Skills and Credentials:

• Staff Attorneys provide support and training to public defenders and appointed counsel representing youth in the delinquency and criminal justice systems.
• Responsibilities include composing and editing publications and sample legal documents related to youth justice and supporting the designing and presenting of continuing legal education programming to youth defenders.  
• In this collaborative position, Staff Attorneys are also responsible for providing requested information and support to youth defenders and maintaining expertise in the area of juvenile law. 
• Candidates must have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school and be licensed in Illinois or be able to obtain an Illinois license. 
• Candidates should have experience representing or working with youth in the delinquency or criminal justice system. Ideally, the candidate will have at least 2 years of experience as a public defender with responsibilities of handling cases involving youth, or in a similar role with government or nonprofit organizations serving justice-involved youth.
• Training or teaching experience is preferred but not required. A valid driver’s license and occasional travel is required. 

Start date: Anticipated October 1^st.

Starting salary is between $82,000 and $101,940, depending on the candidate’s relevant experience.  

Relevant qualifying experience includes employment as a law clerk for a reviewing court, and as an attorney in a public defender’s office and/or criminal appeals office.  

The successful candidate can work a hybrid schedule from one of our office locations in Chicago, Ottawa, Springfield, or Mt. Vernon. 

The Office of the State Appellate Defender is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, and providing a congenial atmosphere, a competitive compensation package, and an excellent benefit plan. Benefits include health, dental, vision and life insurance, details of which can be found at https://cms.illinois.gov/benefits/stateemployee.html. The successful candidate may be eligible to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample by August 29, 2025, to the HR Department at osadhr@OSAD.state.il.us. Early applications are encouraged, as the posting may close prior to the deadline based on the applicant pool.
 

No Current Employment Listings.
 

Position:  Staff Attorney, Juvenile Defender Resource Center

Status: Full-Time, Hybrid Work Schedule

The Illinois Juvenile Defender Resource Center (JDRC), a division of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, has an opening for a Staff Attorney. 

The JDRC was created by the Illinois General Assembly to support the work of attorneys representing youth in delinquency and criminal court and to study and implement model systems for the delivery of juvenile defender services in Illinois. (725 ILCS 105/10(c)(6)). The Center provides defender-driven support for attorneys representing youth in conflict with the law, including cost-free, comprehensive continuing legal education programs; an attorney support hotline; research assistance; case law and legislative updates; and connections to expert witnesses, social workers, and investigators.

Duties, Responsibilities, Skills and Credentials:

• Staff Attorneys provide support and training to public defenders and appointed counsel representing youth in the delinquency and criminal justice systems.
• Responsibilities include composing and editing publications and sample legal documents related to youth justice and supporting the designing and presenting of continuing legal education programming to youth defenders.  
• In this collaborative position, Staff Attorneys are also responsible for providing requested information and support to youth defenders and maintaining expertise in the area of juvenile law. 
• Candidates must have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school and be licensed in Illinois or be able to obtain an Illinois license. 
• Candidates should have experience representing or working with youth in the delinquency or criminal justice system. Ideally, the candidate will have at least 2 years of experience as a public defender with responsibilities of handling cases involving youth, or in a similar role with government or nonprofit organizations serving justice-involved youth.
• Training or teaching experience is preferred but not required. A valid driver’s license and occasional travel is required. 

Start date: Anticipated October 1^st.

Starting salary is between $82,000 and $101,940, depending on the candidate’s relevant experience.  

Relevant qualifying experience includes employment as a law clerk for a reviewing court, and as an attorney in a public defender’s office and/or criminal appeals office.  

The successful candidate can work a hybrid schedule from one of our office locations in Chicago, Ottawa, Springfield, or Mt. Vernon. 

The Office of the State Appellate Defender is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, and providing a congenial atmosphere, a competitive compensation package, and an excellent benefit plan. Benefits include health, dental, vision and life insurance, details of which can be found at https://cms.illinois.gov/benefits/stateemployee.html. The successful candidate may be eligible to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample by August 29, 2025, to the HR Department at osadhr@OSAD.state.il.us. Early applications are encouraged, as the posting may close prior to the deadline based on the applicant pool.
 

Position:  Staff Attorney, Juvenile Defender Resource Center

Status: Full-Time, Hybrid Work Schedule

The Illinois Juvenile Defender Resource Center (JDRC), a division of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, has an opening for a Staff Attorney. 

The JDRC was created by the Illinois General Assembly to support the work of attorneys representing youth in delinquency and criminal court and to study and implement model systems for the delivery of juvenile defender services in Illinois. (725 ILCS 105/10(c)(6)). The Center provides defender-driven support for attorneys representing youth in conflict with the law, including cost-free, comprehensive continuing legal education programs; an attorney support hotline; research assistance; case law and legislative updates; and connections to expert witnesses, social workers, and investigators.

Duties, Responsibilities, Skills and Credentials:

• Staff Attorneys provide support and training to public defenders and appointed counsel representing youth in the delinquency and criminal justice systems.
• Responsibilities include composing and editing publications and sample legal documents related to youth justice and supporting the designing and presenting of continuing legal education programming to youth defenders.  
• In this collaborative position, Staff Attorneys are also responsible for providing requested information and support to youth defenders and maintaining expertise in the area of juvenile law. 
• Candidates must have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school and be licensed in Illinois or be able to obtain an Illinois license. 
• Candidates should have experience representing or working with youth in the delinquency or criminal justice system. Ideally, the candidate will have at least 2 years of experience as a public defender with responsibilities of handling cases involving youth, or in a similar role with government or nonprofit organizations serving justice-involved youth.
• Training or teaching experience is preferred but not required. A valid driver’s license and occasional travel is required. 

Start date: Anticipated October 1^st.

Starting salary is between $82,000 and $101,940, depending on the candidate’s relevant experience.  

Relevant qualifying experience includes employment as a law clerk for a reviewing court, and as an attorney in a public defender’s office and/or criminal appeals office.  

The successful candidate can work a hybrid schedule from one of our office locations in Chicago, Ottawa, Springfield, or Mt. Vernon. 

The Office of the State Appellate Defender is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, and providing a congenial atmosphere, a competitive compensation package, and an excellent benefit plan. Benefits include health, dental, vision and life insurance, details of which can be found at https://cms.illinois.gov/benefits/stateemployee.html. The successful candidate may be eligible to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample by August 29, 2025, to the HR Department at osadhr@OSAD.state.il.us. Early applications are encouraged, as the posting may close prior to the deadline based on the applicant pool.
 

Position:  Staff Attorney, Juvenile Defender Resource Center

Status: Full-Time, Hybrid Work Schedule

The Illinois Juvenile Defender Resource Center (JDRC), a division of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, has an opening for a Staff Attorney. 

The JDRC was created by the Illinois General Assembly to support the work of attorneys representing youth in delinquency and criminal court and to study and implement model systems for the delivery of juvenile defender services in Illinois. (725 ILCS 105/10(c)(6)). The Center provides defender-driven support for attorneys representing youth in conflict with the law, including cost-free, comprehensive continuing legal education programs; an attorney support hotline; research assistance; case law and legislative updates; and connections to expert witnesses, social workers, and investigators.

Duties, Responsibilities, Skills and Credentials:

• Staff Attorneys provide support and training to public defenders and appointed counsel representing youth in the delinquency and criminal justice systems.
• Responsibilities include composing and editing publications and sample legal documents related to youth justice and supporting the designing and presenting of continuing legal education programming to youth defenders.  
• In this collaborative position, Staff Attorneys are also responsible for providing requested information and support to youth defenders and maintaining expertise in the area of juvenile law. 
• Candidates must have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school and be licensed in Illinois or be able to obtain an Illinois license. 
• Candidates should have experience representing or working with youth in the delinquency or criminal justice system. Ideally, the candidate will have at least 2 years of experience as a public defender with responsibilities of handling cases involving youth, or in a similar role with government or nonprofit organizations serving justice-involved youth.
• Training or teaching experience is preferred but not required. A valid driver’s license and occasional travel is required. 

Start date: Anticipated October 1^st.

Starting salary is between $82,000 and $101,940, depending on the candidate’s relevant experience.  

Relevant qualifying experience includes employment as a law clerk for a reviewing court, and as an attorney in a public defender’s office and/or criminal appeals office.  

The successful candidate can work a hybrid schedule from one of our office locations in Chicago, Ottawa, Springfield, or Mt. Vernon. 

The Office of the State Appellate Defender is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, and providing a congenial atmosphere, a competitive compensation package, and an excellent benefit plan. Benefits include health, dental, vision and life insurance, details of which can be found at https://cms.illinois.gov/benefits/stateemployee.html. The successful candidate may be eligible to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample by August 29, 2025, to the HR Department at osadhr@OSAD.state.il.us. Early applications are encouraged, as the posting may close prior to the deadline based on the applicant pool.