SPRINGFIELD - The Blagojevich administration is set to unveil a new job application system that officials say could clean up the state's heavily criticized hiring practices.

Beginning in January, people seeking jobs with the state will be able to search for openings and apply for positions through an online system that has been in the works since September.

The idea is to eliminate clout from the hiring process, which the administration acknowledges could play a role in the way jobs currently are awarded.

The move to the new system comes as federal investigators are probing allegations that thousands of politically connected job applicants received special treatment in getting state jobs.

The system, which is being built under a $1.1 million contract with California-based NEOGOV Inc., will reduce "the potential for error and strengthen accountability," state documents note.

Carl Draper, a Springfield attorney who defended two state workers accused of hiring irregularities, said he was skeptical that the new system would result in major changes.

When the new program was announced nearly a year ago, Draper said he viewed it as "grandstanding" by the administration, which was facing a torrent of bad publicity because of the federal hiring probe and the firing of two workers, whom he says were made "scapegoats."

Draper said the key to eliminating politics from state jobs is for the governor to make it clear to his staff that they must not meddle in any hiring decisions.

"It is not going to be resolved by a computer-based application process," Draper said.

NEOGOV has built similar online hiring programs for dozens of governments across the United States. Among those using the computer-based system are Houston, Hawaii and Atlanta.

Susan Hofer, a Blagojevich spokeswoman, said the state will begin accepting applications Jan. 1, but there won't be many jobs on the Web site for a few weeks.

That's because state agencies will need time to begin entering job openings into the system.

"We don't want to over-promise," said Hofer.

Hofer said the administration expects to begin promoting the Web site in mid-January.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.