Assistant City Attorney

Salary : $114,891.92 - $160,857.32 Annually
Location : Champaign City Building, IL
Job Type: Full Time
Department: Legal
Opening Date: 08/14/2026
Closing Date: 9/7/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: NBU


Position Overview
Are you looking for an Assistant City Attorney role where your work visibly strengthens the community while offering purpose, stability, and work-life balance? In the City of Champaign's council-manager form of government, you'll support elected officials, City leadership, and staff through impactful, hands-on municipal legal work. This role provides broad exposure across diverse legal areas in a collaborative environment that values service and practical problem-solving.

Job Responsibilities
In this role, you'll apply your legal expertise in a mission-driven environment where your work has a real, daily impact on the community. Our Assistant City Attorneys gain broad exposure to many areas of law, handle meaningful work early on, and collaborate in a supportive, team-oriented environment that provides professional stability, work-life balance, and the chance to make a visible difference.

Core responsibilities include:
• Advising City officials and departments on local government law, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Open Meetings Act (OMA), and municipal governance issues.
• Managing, evaluating, and litigating cases involving ordinance enforcement, small claims, workers' compensation, and civil rights defense.
• Researching issues and preparing clear, well-reasoned written legal opinions to support City decision-making.
• Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting legal documents such as contracts, legislation, resolutions, real estate documents, and materials related to municipal regulation.
• Leading or supporting contract creation, review, and negotiation, including participation in labor negotiations.
• Conducting real estate transactional work, including acquisitions, dispositions, and related documentation.
• Overseeing the work of assigned staff, including law clerks/interns, as appropriate.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the organization to solve problems, support community initiatives, and contribute to a broad range of municipal projects

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, or ability to obtain licensure within a timeframe approved by the City Attorney.
• Experience practicing the law.
• Superior interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Substantial experience in government law at the State, federal, or local level.

• Legal experience in a broad range of civil areas.
• Transactional skills in negotiating and drafting of contracts.
• Broad range of skills in real estate, development, and eminent domain.
• Experience in ordinance prosecution and/or other high volume litigation areas (e.g., collections, criminal).
• Experience in municipal finance.
• Experience with property tax assessment or appeals.
• Litigation experience including civil or administrative litigation.
• In-house legal experience.

Drug screening and criminal background check will be required. The full annual salary range is $114,891 - $160,857, accompanied by an excellent fringe benefits package. Most new hires will be placed at the beginning of the range. Applications, including cover letter (required) and resume (optional), must be submitted online no later than Monday, September 7, 2026.
Other Information

Contact the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. if you require an accommodation to complete this application or during any phase of the application, interview, or employment process. The following locations offer free Internet access and assistance: Champaign Public Library, Champaign Public Library Douglass Branch, and the Illinois WorkNet Center.

The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to promoting a work environme nt and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The City of Champaign's mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environme nt and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Learn more about the city's mission and values at
This position is classified as Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt. This information is current as of February 12, 2026.

HEALTH INSURANCE

The City of Champaign offers a robust PPO Select Network plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois with a $500 individual and $1,000 family deductible. The plan covers nearly 98% of providers and facilities across the State of Illinois and grants access to providers nation-wide through Blue Cross Blue Shield. The City of Champaign pays up to $580.00 of the employee (single) health insurance premium and 50% percent of the dependent premium for continuous full-time employees. Premiums for single employee coverage above $580.00 per month are shared by the employee and the City. For the 2026/2027 plan year, NBU-EX Full-Time Employees contribute 1.5203% of salary towards employee only health care. Premiums may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Health insurance coverage begins on the date of hire and ends on the employee's last day of work at the City.


Health Insurance Premiums PPO (2026-27 Plan Year)

Type of Coverage

City Pays (per month)

Employee Pays (per month)

Employee Only

$580.00 + City share of premium above $580.00

1.5203% of salary

Spouse

$644.00

$644.00

Children (one or more)

$399.50

$399.50

Family (spouse and children)

$690.50

$690.50

DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE

Employees may purchase dental and/or vision insurance through payroll deduction. Employees pay 100 percent of the monthly premium for this coverage. Premiums for dental and vision insurance may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Dental and vision insurance begins after waiting for one complete calendar month (e.g., if hire date is in the month of January, coverage begins on March 1st).


The dental plan has two options: Delta Dental Network Low Plan (PPO) and Delta Dental High Plan.


Dental Premiums

Type of Coverage

Low Monthly Premium

High Monthly Premium

Employee Only

$25.54

$ 44.50

Employee/Spouse

$52.57

$ 91.60

Employee/Children

$60.01

$102.82

Family

$95.76

$163.08

Vision insurance is provided by EyeMed.

Vision Premiums

Type of Coverage

Monthly Premium

Employee Only

$ 7.34

Employee/One Dependent

$13.94

Family

$20.48

LIFE INSURANCE

The City provides a term life insurance policy equal to annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand dollars (up to a maximum of $100,000), or $30,000, whichever is greater. Employees may elect to purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for themselves up to 5x their annual salary or $500,000 (whichever is lower), through payroll deduction. Employees may also purchase term life for their spouses/dependents.

• Employee voluntary supplemental life insurance coverage can be purchased in $10,000 increments and the price is calculated based on the employee's age.
• Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their spouses up to half the amount purchased for themselves in $5,000 increments. Cost is calculated based on the employee's age.
• Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their dependent children in the amount of $10,000 for any/all eligible children.
• Employees may purchase Basic Life Insurance for their spouse and eligible dependent children.
  • Option #1: $3.60/month for $10,000 for spouse and $5,000 for any/all eligible children.
  • Option #2: $1.80/month for $5,000 for spouse and $2,000 for any/all eligible children.

PENSION

Illinois state law requires that eligible municipal employees be covered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Employee contributions to IMRF are 4.5 percent of salary and are tax-deferred. For 2026,

the City contributes 7.97 percent of eligible employee's salaries to IMRF. In addition, IMRF members are covered by Social Security (FICA). Obtain additional information by contacting IMRF at 1-800-ASK-IMRF. Employees are eligible to contribute additional funds to IMRF through Voluntary Additional Contributions.


Per IMRF Guidelines, all "unused, unpaid sick leave" goes towards IMRF service credit for employees who retire from the City and whose effective date of their pension is within 60 days of their retirement. You will earn one month of service credit for every 20 days of unused, unpaid sick leave at the time of retirement. Employees with 1-20 days of unused, unpaid sick leave receive one (1) month of additional service credit, employees with 21-40 days of unused, unpaid sick leave will receive two (2) months, etc. If you have any questions regarding this, you can reach out to the Human Resources Department or IMRF directly.

RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS (RHS)

A retirement health savings plan administered by the Mission Square Retirement Corporation has been established for NBU employees. NBU employees participate in a mandatory contribution of 1 percent of pre-tax salary into an RHS investment account. This account is available for use by the employee at retirement or separation of service. Eligible uses of the funds include medical expenses such as health insurance premiums, dental/vision expenses, coinsurance, and co-pays for employees, spouse, and/or dependents.

Note : Upon separation, a mandatory 50 percent of accrued vacation, compensatory and payout-eligible sick leave will be contributed to your RHS balance.

HOLIDAYS

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

PERSONAL LEAVE

At the beginning of each fiscal year July 1st, employees are credited with three personal days (24 hours). Personal leave may not be accumulated and carried over into the next fiscal year. Personal leave during the first year of employment varies based on the date of employment. Personal leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work.


Date of Hire

Personal Leave Credits

7/1 - 10/31

24 hours

11/1 - 2/29

16 hours

3/1 - 6/30

8 hours

VACATION

Vacation accrual rates are based on years of service. Vacation leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work. Vacation accrual rates and maximum accumulations are:


Years of Service

Biweekly Accrual/Year

Max Accumulation

Beginning with Year 1 through 5

4.62 hours/15 days

240 hours/30 days

Beginning with Year 6 through 8

5.54 hours/18 days

288 hours/36 days

Beginning with Year 9 through 14

6.15 hours/20 days

320 hours/40 days

Beginning with Year 15 through 19

6.77 hours/22 days

352 hours/44 days

Beginning with Year 20 to separation

7.69 hours/25 days

400 hours/50 days

SICK LEAVE

Employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 3.69 hours per pay period (approximately 1 day per month). The maximum accumulation of sick leave is 1,200 hours. Employees begin with a "bank" of 48 hours and start accruing sick leave after six (6) months. The maximum accumulation of sick leave is 1,200 hours.

Sick leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work.

LONGEVITY PAY

Employees receive longevity pay based upon their years of continuous employment with the City. Longevity pay is an addition to the employees' base wage rate, as follows:


Years of Service

Longevity Rate

10 years

5.0 percent

20 years

10.0 percent


DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

The City of Champaign offers employees the opportunity to participate in a tax-deferred annuity plan and/or Roth plan of the Mission Square Retirement Corporation through payroll deduction. This is an optional plan with no City Contributions. More information may be obtained by contacting Client Services View phone number on click.appcast.io) or Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

HANDBOOK

View the current Non-Bargaining Unit (NBU) Handbook at
01


Do you have a Juris Doctor degree?

• Yes
• No

02


Are you licensed in good standing and authorized to practice law by the Supreme Court of the Illinois or another state with the ability to obtain licensure through Admission on Motion within a timeframe approved by the City Attorney?

• Yes
• No

03


PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS QUESTION. Your response to this question should be developed as a separate document and attached to your application. Your response should be no more than one side of a page, double-spaced, approximately 200-250 words.Question #1: Why are you interested in the Assistant City Attorney position for the City of Champaign?Have you attached your response to this question to your application as directed above?

• Yes
• No

04


PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS QUESTION. Your response to this question should be developed as a separate document and attached to your application. Your response should be no more than one side of a page, double-spaced, approximately 200-250 words.Question #2: What traits, experience, or skills do you believe distinguish you from other candidates for this position?Have you attached your response to this question to your application as directed above?

• Yes
• No

05


For questions 5 - 16, summarize in two to three sentences each your recent experience (if any) with each. Please include the number of years of experience you have, and the approximate number of hours per week, for each subject matter area during those years of experience. If you have no experience in an area, enter N/A.5. Preparation of ordinances or other legislative documents.
06


Ordinance prosecution and/or other high volume litigation areas, including but not limited to prosecution or public defender experience.
07


Advising a City Council (or equivalent) and/or public boards or commissions.
08


Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/ Open Meetings Act (OMA).
09


Negotiation and drafting of public contracts.
10


Land use/economic development issues.
11


Municipal finance and taxation issues.
12


Real estate, real estate development, eminent domain, and property tax.
13


Civil litigation, including workers' compensation, tort, civil rights, and small claims.
14


Administrative proceedings/hearing experience (including but not limited to arbitration and conduct of government administrative hearings).
15


Labor and employment law.
16


Other municipal law (in areas not covered above).
17


Are there any areas of a public legal practice on which you are particularly interested in focusing? (Three or four would be sufficient - a rationale would be appreciated.)
18


Describe your experience with building safety/code compliance or demolition prosecution/defense. Enter N/A if you have no experience in this area.
19


Please describe your experience serving as in-house counsel for a government entity, including name of employer, years spent performing this work, and a brief description of your job duties. Enter N/A if you have no experience in this area.
20


Have you attached a cover letter to this application as required?

• Yes
• No

Required Question