Past and Current Legal Interns (pdf)
To facilitate OHIT's work in identifying and addressing the legal challenges to the implementation in Illinois of a state-level HIE, and other projects relating to health information technology, OHIT is actively seeking to engage attorneys or advanced level law students to work as volunteer Interns.
OHIT Assignments
The tasks assigned to the Interns will include:
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Legal research projects regarding Federal and State law on matters primarily relating to privacy and security of personal health information, health information technologies, HIE, and health law;
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Drafting legal research reports and informational whitepapers for publication on OHIT’s website or distribution to relevant policymakers and stakeholders (OHIT Advisory Committee and Working Groups, Illinois Legislature, Federal HHS Office of the National Coordinator); and
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Facilitation of OHIT’s engagement with the HIE’s stakeholders in Illinois (providers, payers, patients, public health officials, researchers and regulators), including attendance at meetings and the furnishing of substantive staff support to OHIT’s advisory bodies (research, recommendations, meeting minutes).
Related Agency Assignments
OHIT works closely with other agencies and instrumentalities of the State of Illinois, most notably the Office of the Governor (OOG), the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Department of Public Health (DPH). OHIT is open to the expansion of potential Intern assignments to include legal assistance requested by other State agencies, subject to the availability and agreement of the Intern.
Workflow Inclusion
OHIT will attempt to provide the Interns a comprehensive insight into OHIT’s operations and the legal and business challenges which OHIT will address. Whenever possible, OHIT’s General Counsel and executives will invite Interns to attend meetings with relevant stakeholders.
Chicago Office
OHIT’s offices are located in the State of Illinois James R. Thompson Center. Each Intern will be provided at OHIT’s offices with a personal work space and desktop personal computer with Internet access. In addition to on-line access to selected health policy and legal reference materials, OHIT benefits from the legal reference resources of the adjacent Cook County Law Library. In the event that an Intern agrees to attend any meetings held outside of Chicago, all related reasonable travel expenses will be directly incurred or reimbursed by OHIT.
Springfield Office
OHIT is open to the possibility of engaging an Intern who wishes to work from a State of Illinois office in Springfield.
Office Hours
OHIT maintains business office hours each weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Office attire is business casual; the OHIT office staff is small (under 15 persons) and the environment is collegial.
Flexible Work Scheduling
OHIT believes that the full benefits of the inclusion of the Intern in OHIT’s daily workflow will accrue to those who are able to accept the internship on a full-time basis. OHIT is open, however, to exploring flexible work arrangements to enable Interns to accept paid part-time work, attend bar review or other courses, or to address special needs.
Compensation
Regrettably, OHIT is not presently in a position to offer any cash remuneration to the Interns for their volunteer services. The Interns shall not be employees of the State of Illinois, and will have no entitlement to any of the benefits offered to State of Illinois employees.
Professional Development
In lieu of cash renumeration, OHIT is committed to providing its Interns all reasonable assistance to further their professional development as lawyers. All legal assignments will be personally supervised and reviewed by OHIT’s General Counsel, who will assist, as requested by an Intern, with respect to (i) attempts to secure academic credit for work completed, (ii) letters of reference, and (iii) publication of research results in academic journals.
Confidentiality/Conflicts of Interest
As each Intern will be exposed to confidential information, each Intern must execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Also, each Intern must disclose any involvement during the term of their internship (i) in the representation of any person asserting any claim against the State of Illinois, or (ii) a relationship with a third party, including a potential vendor to OHIT, with an interest potentially adverse to that of the State of Illinois.
Intern Selection Criteria
OHIT adheres to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment. Interns will be selected from the pool of applicants on or about August 15; additional selections may be made from time to time as the need arises. The factors taken into consideration in selecting Interns will include:
Desired Characteristics
- Strong communication skills, verbal and written.
- Positive personality and the ability to work both independently and with team members.
- Strong multi-tasking and organization skills.
- Takes initiative to understand the concepts of health information exchange.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
- Graduate level of Study of Law, IT, Economics, or Healthcare.
Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to Mark.Chudzinski@Illinois.gov for consideration. In the subject line please indicate the term you want to apply for (e.g. Fall 2011).