Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Description:

The mission of the Civil Rights Bureau is to protect and advance the civil rights guarantees of Illinois residents.  The Civil Rights Bureau enforces civil rights laws, such as the Illinois Human Rights Act, and investigates alleged civil rights violations, including allegations of pattern and practice discrimination in housing, public accommodations, employment, and by financial institutions. By statute, the Bureau has robust investigatory tools—including pre-litigation subpoena authority—to investigate potential patterns or practices of unlawful discrimination. The Bureau also exercises enforcement authority under the Illinois Way Forward Act of 2021, which requires Illinois law enforcement agencies to assist with U- and T-visa certifications for cooperating crime victims and restricts participation by those agencies in federal civil immigration enforcement. Bureau attorneys and staff also play a significant role in the Office’s police reform efforts, including through the 2019 consent decree regarding the Chicago Police Department and other ongoing investigations under Section 10 of the Attorney General Act (15 ILCS 205/10). The Bureau also initiates litigation on behalf of the Illinois Department of Human Rights arising from administrative complaints before the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Attorneys in the Bureau frequently work in collaboration with colleagues from other state attorney general offices, including in coordinated advocacy and litigation regarding federal policymaking that impacts Illinois residents. The Bureau is also responsible for analyzing and reviewing proposed legislation in the Illinois General Assembly related to civil rights, and has also recently drafted and successfully advocated for enacted legislation, including amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act. The Bureau shares overlapping jurisdiction and responsibilities with multiple bureaus in the Public Interest Division (e.g., Disability Rights, Workplace Rights, Special Litigation), and attorneys and staff work frequently work in collaboration on multi-bureau investigations and enforcement efforts.   

Responsibilities:

The Bureau Chief advises the Attorney General’s Office on civil rights issues; oversees investigations and cases handled by the Civil Rights Bureau; supervises the Civil Rights Bureau's Assistant Attorneys General; advises, proposes, and comments on legislation related to civil rights issues; and represents the Attorney General’s Office in outreach events throughout the State of Illinois.

Qualifications:

Candidates must be licensed in the State of Illinois and should have at least eight years’ experience, be a skilled litigator, be committed to aggressively enforcing state and federal civil rights laws, and have excellent communication and management skills.  

Salary:           

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.