Job opening: Clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois

The Supreme Court has posted the following opening for the position of Clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois: The Clerk of the Supreme Court is an officer appointed by the Court (Ill. Const. 1970, Art. VI, § 18 (a)), reports to the Court, and serves at the Court’s pleasure. This senior level position is the Court’s principal case processing and records manager who operates the Clerk’s main office in Springfield and a satellite office in Chicago through a staff of 14 deputies which the Clerk recruits, selects, trains, and supervises, and by planning, developing, and implementing policies and procedures necessary to execute the responsibilities of the office. As case manager, the Clerk oversees and evaluates the functioning of four distinct automated dockets, and all associated processes, to ensure compliance with Supreme Court Rules and effective tracking and scheduling of cases from initiation to issuance of mandates and final orders. Relatedly, the Clerk interprets and applies relevant rules and compiles, analyzes, and reports statistics on the Court’s case load. As records manager, the Clerk is responsible for the Court’s active and closed files and permanent records, dating to 1818. The Clerk maintains the roll of attorneys, which includes the licensing process; registers and renews professional service corporations and associations, and limited liability companies and partnerships engaged in the practice of law; files judicial financial disclosure statements required of state court judges. The Clerk routinely writes reports for the Court on legal and administrative subjects, including a body of memoranda on attorney discipline cases ready for disposition each term of Court; and initiates or undertakes projects as directed. The Clerk fosters critical working relationships with offices of the judicial branch, Supreme Court agencies, and state and county departments. The foregoing description of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and it is expected that the incumbent possesses the analytical, organizational, communication, and legal skills necessary to execute responsibilities at the highest level of competency. Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor degree from ABA approved law school and license to practice law in Illinois or other state or territory of the United States or District of Columbia.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible administrative experience in public or private sector which provided a thorough understanding of the functioning of an organization and a general understanding of court operations, including a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible, substantial, and successful experience in a management or supervisory role. Through this experience the incumbent should have gained the ability to sustain a high level of organizational excellence, to exercise consistently sound judgment, and to maintain unfailingly professional demeanor.

Experience in court administration is desirable. The active practice of law may be substituted for up to 2 years of administrative and managerial experience. Compensation and Benefits Annual salary $125,000. State of Illinois benefits, including medical and pension. Application Process The closing date for making application is May 7, 2010, or until the position is filled. Application may be made by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, salary history, and self-edited writing sample of no more than 5 pages to:

• Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald
• Chief Justice
• Supreme Court of Illinois
• c/o Clerk’s Office
• 160 N. LaSalle Street 20th Floor
• Chicago, IL 60601-1332

Please note “Application” on the outside of the envelope. Electronic submissions will not be accepted. The position is available January 3, 2011. The position is duty stationed at the Clerk’s main office in Springfield, Illinois.