Job Description

Union Pacific, a Fortune 150 company, has an open position for a General Attorney in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Law office has a team of attorneys and paralegals who defend and try personal injury and employment litigation filed in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. The Law office is in the Loop in downtown Chicago.

The General Attorney serves as a trial attorney for Union Pacific in the state of Illinois and may also defend lawsuits in the states of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The General Attorney is primarily responsible for litigating employee and third-party personal injury and employment whistleblower and discrimination lawsuits from the initial filing of the lawsuit up to and including trial. The General Attorney represents the Company as lead counsel before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and arbitration panels to achieve the best outcome. This includes filing responsive pleading to lawsuits, conducting discovery, drafting motions, retaining expert witnesses, and representing Union Pacific at hearings and trial.

This position also involves collaboration with risk management and operating managers in investigating the claim and in developing themes and defenses to actions filed or threatened against the railroad or filed on behalf of the railroad. The General Attorney also provides advice and counsel to organizational clients in a variety of legal matters to provide a safe workplace, manage risk and exposure, as well as counseling clients on a variety of operational and personnel related legal issues. The General Attorney will have the opportunity learn the business of operating a Class I Railroad in order to better provide legal services to Union Pacific.

The General Attorney will work under the supervision and guidance of a supervising attorney and other seasoned trial counsel. General Attorneys have their own case load and a degree of autonomy in working up and defending their assigned lawsuits. The successful candidate will be expected to investigate and prepare their cases for trial and be ready and willing to try them.

Union Pacific has a 50% work from home policy. Benefits include a robust 401K matching plan, an employee stock plan (ESP), health, vision and dental coverage, life and disability insurance, wellness programs, adoption/surrogacy assistance, childcare/support services, parental leave, tuition reimbursement and many other valuable benefits. The long list of benefits can be found under the Benefits section on up.jobs (https://up.jobs/why/benefits/index.htm)

Requirements include: Law Degree, Licensed to practice in the State of Illinois or eligible to apply for the Rule 716 Limited Admission of House Counsel in Illinois for a single corporation. Prior trial experience is required.

Serve as legal counsel to Union Pacific Railroad Company with principal responsibility for legal issues in a variety of areas.

Accountabilities

Conduct research and analyze legal issues
Work independently and with a team with excellent judgment and both strategic and tactical thinking
Draft and review pleadings, motions, briefs and legal memoranda
Lead, handle, and balance a high volume of matters and assignments
Expertise in legal and analytical work with a business-oriented pragmatic approach to problem-solving
Prioritize and handle the workload and simultaneous tasks, and meet deadlines in a changing, fast paced environment
Highly responsive and organized
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, client relationship, and team skills
Specialized knowledge and experience
Provide legal guidance

Qualifications

Required

A Juris Doctor degree
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois or eligible to apply for the Rule 716 Limited Admission of House Counsel in Illinois for a single corporation

Preferred

4 or more years of work experience as a litigation attorney
Prior trial experience
Licensed to practice law in multiple jurisdictions
experienced in managing junior attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries
experienced in litigating in both federal and state courts

Work Conditions

18 years of age or older
Benefit information can be found under the Benefits section on up.jobs (https://up.jobs/why/benefits/index.htm)