Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

The Workplace Rights Bureau’s mission is to protect the rights of workers in Illinois, particularly those most vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.  The Bureau investigates and brings enforcement actions under Illinois statutes that protect workers from wage theft, overtime violations, misclassification, discrimination, and other abusive employment practices. The Bureau frequently initiates investigations based on complaints from workers who have been victimized by unlawful employment practices. The Bureau has significant investigatory tools, including pre-litigation, civil subpoena power, that enable thorough investigations of potential violations within the Bureau’s jurisdiction. The Bureau’s investigations and enforcement actions result in substantial monetary and injunctive relief each year for impacted workers.   

The Bureau also employs innovative legal strategies and a wide range of statutes to protect workers’ rights. For example, the Bureau has collaborated with state antitrust enforcers to obtain favorable precedent and recoveries in cases involving unlawful no-poach agreements and other anti-competitive practices harming workers.

Beyond investigations and litigation, the Bureau also comments on proposed state and federal rulemaking, drafts amicus briefs on important workers’ rights issues, often in collaboration with other state attorney general’s offices, and assists with drafting legislative and regulatory proposals impacting workers.

The Bureau is looking for dynamic, hard-working, and creative attorneys and staff who are committed to protecting workers’ rights.

Responsibilities: 

An Assistant Attorney General in the Workplace Rights Bureau is responsible for all aspects of the investigation and litigation of assigned cases, including investigative memoranda, pleadings, discovery, court appearances, witness interviews, depositions, mediations, and settlements, and generally representing the interests of the People of the State of Illinois. 

Qualifications:

Candidates must be licensed by the State of Illinois at the time of application or be willing to promptly gain admission to the Illinois bar. A strong candidate will have litigation experience, sound judgment, excellent research and writing skills, leadership experience, a commitment to the public interest, strong interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated ability to work independently. Candidates with fluency in Spanish or Polish are encouraged to apply.