Real Estate Assistant

Joseph P. Selbka

** *. ******* *********, ***** *56

Chicago, Illinois 60604

Phone: 312-***-**** Fax:312-***-****

*******@*********.***

ATTORNEY BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Selbka has practiced law since 1996 in the government and the private sector following

his graduation from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1996. He has

practiced in Cook County and the collar counties since receiving his law license. While working as

a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois, he began studying for a master s

degree in public administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Urban Planning

and Public Affairs. He received his master s degree in 2001 and now teaches as an adjunct lecturer

at the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. After working as an attorney for more than

five years in the private sector representing units of local government, individuals, and

corporations, he opened his own office on January 1, 2006, representing individuals, local

governments, and corporations in numerous civil matters.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Impartial Due Process Hearing Officer, OSSE 2011-Present

Hearing Officer for the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of

Education adjudicating disputes between school districts and parents regarding the provision of

special education services.

Impartial Due Process Hearing Officer, ISBE 2008-Present

Hearing Officer for the Illinois State Board of Education adjudicating disputes between

school districts and parents regarding the provision of special education services.

Solo Practitioner, Law Offices of Joseph P. Selbka 2006-Present

Solo Practitioner representing businesses, non-profit associations, and individuals in the

areas of: civil litigation, corporate law, construction law, probate, contracts, estate planning,

employment law, real estate, condominium law.

Associate, Canna and Canna, Ltd. 2000- 2005

Attorney at a full service law firm representing school districts, other units of local

government, corporations, and individuals. The firm represents more than twenty school districts

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across Illinois, as well as library districts, small cities, a county, and park districts throughout

Northern Illinois. The firm also represents numerous small and medium sized corporations and

individuals in civil matters.

Involved in all areas of the firm s practice with a concentration in litigation. In the local

government context, litigated certification issues, teacher tenure issues, police misconduct issues,

labor issues, civil rights issues, employment torts, employment discrimination claims, school

building construction issues, UCC issues, disability discrimination issues, and numerous other

issues regarding all aspects of school administration.

Extensively involved in the firm s commercial, corporate, and construction law practice,

especially in relation to litigation issues. Litigated construction law issues, partnership and joint

venture issues, probate issues, collection issues, contract issues, business tort and fraud issues,

mechanics lien issues, landlord-tenant issues, employment issues, and real estate issues.

Practiced in front of the Illinois circuit courts and the Appellate Court of Illinois on multiple

occasions representing school districts and other clients.

Practiced before the federal courts of Illinois on numerous occasions representing school

districts, other units of local government, corporations, other business entities, and individuals.

Litigated before administrative agencies including the Illinois Educational Labor Relations

Board, The Illinois Labor Relations Board, State Panel, and the Illinois Department of Human

Rights.

Adjunct Lecturer, University of Illinois at Chicago 2003- Present

Teach a master s level course for public administration graduate students at the College of

Urban Planning and Public Affairs. The course is designed to teach the legal context of public

management and to give government managers a working knowledge of how to understand and

manage legal problems which arise in a government workplace.

Associate, Harrison Law Offices, P.C. 1999-2000

Attorney at law firm representing individuals and units of local government in labor and

employment and civil rights issues.

Managed dozens of litigation cases and was counsel on several civil trials and a labor

arbitration.

Special Assistant Attorney General, State of Illinois 1997-1999

Served as litigation counsel for the Illinois Department of Employment Security. As a

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special assistant attorney general, defended hundreds of administrative review actions and

specialized in administrative and employment law.

EDUCATION

University of Illinois at Chicago, M.P.A., 2001

G.P.A. 4.86 / 5.0

Member of Pi Alpha Alpha Honors Fraternity (Honors Society for those

who finish in the top 20% of their class).

University of Chicago, The Law School, Visiting Student, 1995-1996

G.P.A. 76.5 (B= 74-79)

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D. 1996

G.P.A. 12.2 / 16.0

cum laude graduate

Dean s List 1993-1994, 1994-1995.

University of Illinois at Urbana, B.A. 1993

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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