Government Lawyers Committee hosts brown-bag luncheon on networking

The Government Lawyers Committee sponsored the brown-bag lunch, "Jobs, Networking, and Why Do I Work for the Government?" on June 22, 2004. As part of the Committee's plan to bring the ISBA to the government lawyers, the program was held in Chicago at the State of Illinois Building at 160 N. LaSalle Street on the 5th floor. Sixty people attended!

Two government attorneys discussed public sector employment opportunities and networking. Jim Reilly, Chief Administrative Law Officer, Department of Administrative Hearings, City of Chicago, offered concrete suggestions on how to get government jobs, such as interning or working part-time for the place where you want to work. Mr. Reilly emphasized talking to everyone and said that if the person you speak to does not know of any jobs in the area in which you are looking, ask him or her to give you the names of other people you could contact. He suggested that the key is keeping your name "out there" by participating in bar activities and writing for bar association newsletters, which will help your name stand out when a prospective employer is looking through a stack of resumes.

As for specific positions, Mr. Reilly said the Cook County State's Attorney's office is always looking for good attorneys, especially in Appeals. He said the City of Chicago has a lawyer assigned to the commissioner of each city department, lawyers for administrative hearing units such as the liquor license department, and lawyers for the city's corporation counsel's office. Reilly noted that there is a separate outside hiring committee for the corporation counsel's office.

Also participating in the program was Thomas H. Allen, Administrator, Formal Hearings Division, Department of Administrative Hearings, Office of the Secretary of State, Chicago, and former private criminal lawyer. Mr. Allen amused and enlightened the group with anecdotes about the financial pressures of private practice-having to generate business, not knowing your income from month to month, not having paid holidays, insurance or pension benefits. He clearly enjoys working for the State. In addition to the economic benefits, he noted that his hours are predictable and give him time to be with his family.

Based upon the enthusiastic response to this program, similar programs are being planned for this spring at Cook County Juvenile Court and at the Cook County Criminal Court at 26th and California in Chicago. If there is a location outside of Cook County where you would like to see a similar type of program, please contact Donna Del Principe at 312-996-4572.