Spotlight on Women and the Law Member Lori G. Levin

Attorney Lori G. Levin is a long-time member of the Standing Committee on Women and the Law, of which she has been a member since 2007 and is currently serving as our Secretary. Lori is an attorney in private practice, handling a variety of criminal, juvenile justice, domestic violence, elder and mental health law issues, and she has been in private practice since 2009. Prior to her private practice, Lori was the Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Prior thereto, Lori was a Supervisor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office as well as a Trial Attorney. During her tenure as a Trial Attorney, Lori tried 50 felony jury cases and hundreds of bench trials. She was rose to first chair in the Felony Trial Courts at 26th and California, and was them promoted to a supervisor in the Seniors and Persons with Disabilities/Mental Health Division.

Lori received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois. Lori is very active in the Women’s Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Lori is a past President of the Women’s Bar Association. She also has co-chaired numerous WBAI committees as well as served on the Board of Directors for six years. Lori is currently a member of the Criminal Justice Section Council and an Assembly member, and she was previously Chair of the Mental Health Law Committee, Chair of the Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education, as well as an Elder Law Section Council Member. The Standing Committee of Women and the Law is extremely proud that just this year, Lori was selected as a Laureate of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Academy of Illinois Lawyers, an extremely high honor.

Lori is a Super Lawyer, which she has been nominated by her peers for over several years. She has also been selected as a Leading Lawyer for her practice areas. Lori also was the 2014 recipient of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award. Lori has been a champion for Illinois’ ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She can be found organizing support for the Amendment through our state’s legislature. She is always in the know regarding the most recent progress of the ratification. Lori is an exemplary attorney, who works with some of society’s most vulnerable population. She is an advocate, an educator and an active participant in the Illinois legal community. Furthermore, Lori is always available to other attorneys for assistance, her expertise and advice, when called upon to help or lend a hand. She is always ready and willing to volunteer for anything that needs to be done for our committee, and she eagerly accepts challenges presented to her. Lori prides herself in being both a mentor within the legal community.

Lori was asked a variety of questions relevant to women and the practice of law, and her answers were as follows:

Q: Tell us a little bit about the areas in which you practice.

Lori: After spending a long time in public service, I opened my law practice in 2009. I handle a variety of matters but primarily criminal and juvenile cases, DCFS Administrative Appeals and legal issues, both in the criminal and civil arenas, pertaining to the mentally ill. This has been the most rewarding chapter of my career. I love helping people and love figuring out the best way to try to achieve the best results for them.

Q: What advice would you give to young female attorneys who are just starting their career? Is there anything you wish you would ae known before you started practicing?

Lori: My advice to young female attorneys is that know that the persons you meet in your career will be your colleagues throughout it. Know that your word is your bond and comport yourself accordingly.

Q: If you had to pick one public policy issue that is near and dear to you, what would you pick and why?

Lori: The one public policy issue near and dear to me is that Illinois needs to finally ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Illinois Constitution itself guarantees the same rights to women as well as men. It is incongruent that the same does not hold true in the United States Constitution. Although women have made great strides towards equality, the mechanisms achieving that have been statutes, which can be repealed. A Constitutional guarantee of equality would subject allegations of sex discrimination to a higher burden. The time is long overdue for women to have equal rights under the law.

Q: Tell us about your family and your hobbies.

Lori: I am married and have two grown step-children. Hobbies: I love yoga and the Bar Method but don’t do enough of either of them! I also love to read.

We are very proud of all of Lori’s accomplishment and congratulate her on her Laureate selection! We know that we can expect many more great things from Lori. 