In addition to offering competitive salaries, employees receive a robust benefits package including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug benefits, life insurance, and pension plan; paid time off, including vacation, sick, personal time, and 13 paid holidays; Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program; 12-week Paid Parental Leave; and remote work opportunities. Information concerning benefits can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page. The Office of the Cook County Public Guardian is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified candidates may submit a resume and cover letter to Kelley A. Thornton, Deputy of Administration & Human Resources, at kelley.thornton@cookcountyil.gov.
Law Student Internship
(Juvenile, Adult Guardianship, and Domestic Relations Divisions & Appeals Unit)
The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Divisions and Appeals Unit welcome law clerks throughout the year to assist in representing clients from birth to age 21. Volunteers, grant recipients, and students working for credit are encouraged to apply. The law clerk program is designed to provide students with practical experience. Law clerks may request to be assigned to the Juvenile Division, the Domestic Relations Division, or the Appeals Unit. Duties may include drafting motions and other court documents, legal research, appellate briefs, case preparation, interviewing witnesses, and assisting experienced attorneys in advocating for children and youth. Students with a license issued pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 may appear in court under the supervision of a licensed attorney and receive training to interview child clients. All law clerks participate in an orientation and formal training. Each law clerk receives performance evaluations. Law clerks must be enrolled in an accredited law school, possess the ability to communicate and work with attorneys and other professional staff, demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, and show enthusiasm and assertiveness. All internships and clerkships are unpaid. Check with your school for externships or other credit arrangements. Volunteers, grant recipients, and students working for credit may submit a cover letter and resume via email to the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, Attn: Law Clerk Coordinator, Law Clerk Program, opg@cookcountyil.gov. Deadlines for submitting applications are November 15th for Spring clerkships, March 15th for Summer clerkships, and July 15th for Fall clerkships.
The Adult Guardianship Division of the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian offers a unique opportunity to law students. Attorneys in the Adult Guardianship Division represent the Public Guardian in his capacity as guardian of disabled adults. While attorneys primarily handle guardianship matters in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, they often find themselves representing the Public Guardian on behalf of disabled adults in other divisions such as Municipal, Chancery, and Domestic Relations, to name a few. As law clerks in the Adult Guardianship Division, students assist attorneys by conducting legal research, drafting memoranda, motions, and other legal pleadings, and preparing for trial or other hearings. Student law clerks are also offered the unique opportunity to accompany attorneys in the field to conduct real property inspections, visit with disabled adults at their residences, and attend meetings with other professionals working with disabled adults. A law student with a license under Supreme Court Rule 711 may appear before the court supervised by one of the Adult Guardianship attorneys. All student law clerks are provided in-house training at the start of the clerkship and are mentored by the attorneys. All internships and clerkships are unpaid. Check with your school for externships or other credit arrangements. Interested law students should submit a cover letter and resume via email to the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, Attn: Law Clerk Coordinator, Law Clerk Program, opg@cookcountyil.gov. Deadlines for submitting applications are November 15th for Spring clerkships, March 15th for Summer clerkships, and July 15th for Fall clerkships.
Caseworker Advocate Internship
The caseworker advocate student internship allows qualified students to assist the caseworker advocacy unit in interviewing children in order to gather information from the child’s perspective. This is a field position, requiring students to have a vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.
Psychology Student Internship
The Juvenile Division welcomes master’s and doctoral-level psychology students interested in completing a social justice practicum as part of their training through their academic program. Students interested in learning about advocacy, public service, marginalized populations, legal proceedings, and child welfare are encouraged to apply. Internships are unpaid. Psychology students will complete a project as part of a team that aims to facilitate advocacy in meeting the needs of our clients. Interns must be enrolled in an accredited institution with an educational agreement in place with our office, demonstrate good time management, analytical skills, and organizational abilities, and have an interest in research and a passion for learning about working with this population. Psychology students receive weekly supervision by a licensed clinical psychologist.
THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
