Civil Rights Defense Attorney

Civil Rights Defense 

About Us:

Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC is a full-service general practice law firm located downtown Chicago, providing high-quality legal services across a range of practice areas including municipal law, civil rights defense, and complex and business litigation. With decades of experience representing government entities, law enforcement agencies, and public officials, our firm is known for its commitment to integrity, responsiveness, and results. Our Civil Rights Litigation team focuses on defending Chicago police officers and other municipal clients in high-stakes federal and state lawsuits.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a passionate and detail-oriented attorney to join our Civil Rights Defense team. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of federal litigation experience and will handle and assist with high-profile cases at the trial level. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated litigator interested in constitutional law, public service, and courtroom advocacy. Applicants should be comfortable working with law enforcement.

Key Responsibilities:

- Defend law enforcement officers and other municipal clients in federal civil rights actions (e.g., §1983 claims)

- Work collaboratively with senior attorneys to manage cases and assist with all stages of litigation, including, motion practice, written discovery, depositions, and trial preparation

- Appear in court for hearings, trials, and settlement conferences

- Conduct legal research and collaborate with team members on case strategy

- Draft and prepare pleadings, motions, settlement agreements, legal memoranda, and other legal documents

Qualifications:

- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

- Licensed to practice law in Illinois; federal court experience (particularly N.D. Ill.) is preferred

- Minimum of 5 years of civil litigation experience

- Strong interest in constitutional law, government law, and law enforcement-related matters

- Exceptional legal writing and analytical skills

- High attention to detail and strong organizational abilities

- Comfortable working with law enforcement clients and public agencies

- Ability to manage cases independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment

Preferred Experience:

- Prior work involving civil rights, municipal law, or law enforcement defense

- Trial experience in federal or state court

Compensation & Benefits:

- We offer a competitive salary starting at $140,000 but will be commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, 401(k) with firm contributions, CLE support, and hybrid work flexibility.

To Apply:

- Please submit your resume, cover letter, and a legal writing sample to View email address on click.appcast.io with the subject line: Civil Rights Defense Attorney Application – [Your Name].