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POSITION SUMMARY Under general supervision, will undertake senior-level legal responsibilities, primarily focusing on litigating a diverse and complex caseload of commercial and civil rights cases. This role requires the ability to independently handle "first chair" responsibilities in litigation, ensuring thorough representation and strategic advocacy on behalf of the Authority.

Qualifications PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans, directs, and participates in litigation matters as they relate to general corporate issues and other matters on behalf of the Authority.
• Manages and litigates a caseload consisting of complex commercial disputes and civil rights complaints filed in administrative agencies or Federal Court.
• Serves as lead counsel ("first chair") in court proceedings, including trials and hearings before courts and administrative agencies.
• Provides strategic legal advice and guidance to client departments regarding active litigation and commercial disputes.
• Conducts legal research, drafts legal documents, and prepares briefs and pleadings.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders and external parties, including opposing counsel and experts.
• Performs all phases of discovery.
• Prepares witnesses for depositions, hearings, and trials.
• Drafts and negotiates settlement agreements.
• Manages work of support staff, junior attorneys, or legal interns assigned to his/her projects. Verifies work for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques and compliance with legal standards and practices.
• Conducts research for the purpose of advising client departments. May provide advice and counsel directly to client departments. Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays current with new legal developments, trends, and innovations.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES Reporting to this position are the following jobs: Job Title

• Administrative Support

CHALLENGES

• Keeping abreast of new trends and innovations in the legal field.
• Maintaining good working relationships and communicating effectively with client departments and staff on all levels to achieve Authority goals and objectives.
• Managing multiple tasks simultaneously and handling stressful situations.
• Providing legal advice efficiently and accurately on behalf of the Authority.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited school of law and licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, plus seven (7) years of experience as a practicing attorney, of which three (3) years of experience was spent specializing in commercial litigation, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Required to maintain appropriate continuing legal education credits.
• Experience with public sector procurement laws preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Detailed knowledge of applicable federal and state laws.
• Detailed knowledge of negotiation strategies.
• Working knowledge of the methods and practices of legal research and investigation, judicial procedure, and the rules of evidence.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite including word processing functions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills necessary for competent legal interpretation.
• Strong managerial and administrative skills to direct and coordinate the activities of the case/transaction team.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively interrelate with other Law Department staff and various levels of personnel from other Authority departments.
• Ability to work with integrity, initiative, and the creativity to provide effective solutions to CTA issues.
• Ability to provide legal advice in a short response time, multi-task, and play increasing managerial role.
• Ability to independently handle all matters that arise in practice area.
• If position emphasis is litigation, ability to practice skills and experience to “second chair” almost every litigation matter involving the Authority.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• General office environment.
• Makes occasional site visits to non-office locations (e.g. court or other CTA facilities).

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED

• Standard office equipment.
• Personal computer and legal related equipment and software.
• Office productivity and on-line legal research software
• If position emphasis is litigation, trial visual aids equipment and litigation support software.