Legal Services

The Legal-Benefits team is comprised of attorneys who provide legal counsel to the CMS Bureau of Benefits in its administration of multiple state employee health and retirement programs. The team ensures the programs’ compliance with applicable laws and regulations; addresses individual issues of enrolled members; and assists with procurement, contract, and legislative drafting. Legal-Benefits also advises the CMS Risk Management Division on claims brought under the State employees’ workers’ compensation program and the State’s self-insured auto liability plan.

Deputy General Counsel
Chicago

The Legal-Personnel team is comprised of several attorneys, a Special Counsel, the EEO/AA Officer, and the Chief Security Officer. The team provides all agencies with legal advice regarding the Personnel Code, the Personnel Rules, and various federal and state employment laws. In addition, Legal-Personnel represents agencies in matters before the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and responds to inquiries from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Labor, and the U. S. Department of Justice.

Chief Security Officer
Springfield

EEO Office/ADA Coordinator
Springfield

The Legal-Property Management team handling State of Illinois real estate matters is comprised of attorneys who deal with a wide variety of situations involving the State’s extensive portfolio of owned and leased properties, including (1) the leasing of office space and the purchase of vacant land and existing buildings to meet the needs of dozens of State agencies, Boards and commissions, (2) the sale of properties determined to be “surplus” that are slated for disposition, and (3) the documentation of intergovernmental transfers and operational sharing of real estate interests involving counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, and special taxation districts.

The Legal-Procurement team provides legal advice and assistance for State purchasing staff to ensure statutory and regulatory compliance, particularly those purchases subject to the Illinois Procurement Code and associated statutes and rules. The team primarily provides services to CMS's Bureau of Strategic Sourcing; however, it also provides services to the Governor's Office and agencies under the Governor's authority on an as-needed basis.

The Legal-Administration and Finance team provides advice and counsel to the Bureaus of Administrative Services, Internal Audit and Administrative Hearings as well as the Offices of Legislative Affairs, Finance and Management (OFM), Communication and Information (IOCI) and the Director’s Office. The team is comprised of attorneys and support staff and is responsible for the coordination of agency administrative rulemakings as well as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and ethics compliance.