Legal Associate Jobs in Illinois
Legal Associate jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand running from entry-level research roles through senior litigation support positions, concentrated in corporate law, regulatory compliance, and financial services. Chicago anchors the market as one of the most competitive hiring cities in the Midwest, while Naperville and Springfield generate steady openings tied to state government and regional corporate headquarters. Major employers with lasting Illinois presences include Sidley Austin, Kirkland and Ellis, and the University of Illinois System. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Position Title: Real Estate Tax Assessment Associate Attorney
Practice Area: Real Estate Tax Law
Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Chicago, IL / Hybrid
Reports To: Practice Group Leader/Senior Partner
About the Firm
Our Real Estate Tax Group is a leading boutique law firm recognized for delivering exceptional legal services in real estate tax. Our practice encompasses a broad range of real estate, including residential, condominium, apartment, retail/commercial, industrial and specialty properties. We cultivate a collaborative, high-performance environment where associates work directly with institutional clients, real estate developers, and senior partners.
Position Overview
We are seeking a talented and motivated Associate Real Estate Tax Attorney to join our growing Real Estate Tax Practice Group. The ideal candidate will handle a dynamic workload spanning commercial property tax assessment appeals at the local Assessor’s Office, the Board of Review, and appearances in front of administrative agencies.
Key Responsibilities
- Property Tax Assessment Appeals: Manage administrative appeals from initiation to resolution before local tax assessors, county boards of review, and state tax appeal agencies.
- Tax Objection Litigation: Prepare and litigate tax objection cases in state trial courts, including drafting complaints, motions, legal briefs, and discovery requests.
- Valuation & Financial Analysis: Review real property assessment notices, evaluate commercial appraisal reports, and analyze property income/expense statements to evaluate tax reduction opportunities.
- Transactional Tax Support: Assist in drafting tax clauses for purchase and sale agreements (PSAs), and lease agreements.
- Government & Client Negotiation: Represent clients in settlement negotiations with county, municipal, and state taxing authorities.
- Legal Research & Writing: Perform complex legal research on state tax statutes, local municipal codes, and emerging case law.
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.
- Bar Admission: Active member of good standing with the Illinois State Bar (or eligible for immediate admission on motion).
- Skills: Excellent legal writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills, with demonstrated proficiency in interpreting financial statements and property valuation models.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: Salary commensurate with experience.
- Bonuses: Annual performance bonus eligible.
- Benefits Package:
o Comprehensive health and dental insurance
o 401(k) retirement plan with matching contributions
o Generous paid time off (PTO) and parental leave
o Bar association dues coverage and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) budget
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials to skickels@fieldandgoldberg.com with the subject line "Real Estate Tax Associate Application - Your Name”:
1. Current Resume / CV
2. Cover Letter highlighting real estate tax or tax appeal experience
3. Writing Sample (e.g., legal brief, memorandum, or substantive administrative pleading)
Field and Goldberg, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Pay: $60,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL
See All 10 Legal Associate Jobs in Illinois
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Find Legal Associate JobsLegal Associate Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Legal Associate Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in legal associate jobs across Illinois.
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school with active Illinois bar admission or eligibility
- Demonstrated experience in legal research, drafting motions, and preparing client correspondence
- Proficiency with Westlaw, LexisNexis, or comparable legal research and document management platforms
- Strong written and verbal communication skills suited to Illinois court filings and client-facing work
- Ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously under senior attorney supervision in a fast-paced environment
- Familiarity with Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and local court rules for Cook County or relevant jurisdiction
Legal Associate Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a legal associate in Illinois?
Becoming a legal associate in Illinois requires earning a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school and passing the Illinois Bar Examination, administered by the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. After passing, candidates must complete the character and fitness review before receiving a law license. Many Illinois firms also expect new associates to complete MCLE requirements through the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism within their first year of practice.
How much do legal associates make in Illinois?
Legal associates in Illinois earn a median of about $63,670 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $46,860 for the lowest 10% to over $104,580 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire legal associates in Illinois?
Employers hiring legal associates in Illinois right now include Harbor, Fictiv, and RR Donnelley, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of large corporate law firms, insurance carriers, and Fortune 500 headquarters in the Chicago metro creates a particularly broad and sustained market for legal associate talent across practice areas.
Which Illinois cities have the most legal associate jobs?
Chicago and Warrenville have the most legal associate openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its dense cluster of BigLaw firms, financial institutions, and corporate legal departments, while Naperville draws from the corridor of technology and manufacturing company headquarters along Interstate 88, and Springfield generates consistent openings tied to state agency legal offices and government affairs work.
Are there remote legal associate jobs in Illinois?
Yes, though they represent a smaller share than in purely analytical fields, since legal associate roles often involve in-person court appearances, client meetings, and document review. About 100% of legal associate openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements most common in contract review, compliance advisory, and transactional support roles that do not require courtroom presence.
How can I get hired as a legal associate in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a summer associate or judicial clerkship position before graduation, since Illinois firms and Cook County judges routinely convert clerks into full-time associates. Large Illinois employers such as Sidley Austin and Kirkland and Ellis run structured new associate programs for recent bar admittees. Candidates moving from paralegal or legal analyst roles with an Illinois license in hand, or those completing a clerkship with an Illinois state court judge, gain a clear competitive edge for first-year associate openings.
Where can I find and apply to legal associate jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to legal associate jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. Find roles that fit your practice area and experience level and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 10 Legal Associate Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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