Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Clayton Smith is a dedicated legal professional currently serving as an Assistant State Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where responsibilities began in August 2023 after a previous role as a Law Clerk from August 2022 to May 2023. Smith has a strong background in customer service and leasing as demonstrated during a four-year tenure at Planned Property Management, where achievements included becoming a top-producing Leasing Consultant and developing a customer service system. Previous experience includes analytical work as a Finance Analyst at Planned Property Management and an internship at First Community Bank, focusing on loan stress testing and data analysis. Academically, Smith earned a Juris Doctor (Cum Laude) from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, following a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance from the University of Louisville.
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
With more than 700 attorneys, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office is the second largest prosecutor's office in the nation. The CCSAO is responsible for the prosecution of all misdemeanor and felony crimes committed in Cook County, one of the largest counties in the United States. The CCSAO also serves as legal counsel for the government of Cook County and county office holders and employees, litigating Plaintiff and Defense oriented cases and providing legal counsel on a range of matters. Led by State’s Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx, the first African American elected to the office, the CCSAO’s team of prosecutors has a passion for public service and has earned a national reputation for excellence in the pursuit of justice for the people we serve. The CCSAO offers many rewarding and exciting opportunities in the following areas: Criminal Prosecutions • Felony Trial • Sex Crimes Unit • Special Prosecutions Bureau • Juvenile Justice Bureau • Narcotics Bureau • Appeals Unit Civil Actions Bureau • Civil Rights • Constitutional Law • Labor and Employment • Medical Malpractice • Plaintiff-Side Torts • Municipal Litigation • State and Federal Litigation Our program is highly competitive due to the hands-on, challenging and relevant work experience. There are opportunities for Assistant State's Attorneys, undergraduate interns, legal interns earning a paralegal certificate, law clerks and recently graduated Secondments or Fellows. Please visit our careers page to download an application and learn more about applying to be part of the office.