The adoption process is an integral piece of my life. I am an adoptive parent of two wonderful children through this process and have been an attorney for over 16 years. Over the years, I have been involved with many types of adoptions: in state, out of state, related, foreign re-adoptions, and child welfare adoptions. What I have learned in these years is impossible to put in writing but what I know is: the adoption experience will be emotionally charged, but with the right resources in place, your goal of adoption can be reached.

I graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois in 1986, having attended DePaul University, Chicago, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1981. My work experience includes working as a social worker at the American Red Cross in the disaster relief efforts. After  law school, I worked as Assistant State's Attorney where I handled numerous jury trials and headed the juvenile delinquency division.

Just prior to my concentration on adoption, I represented abused/neglected children and disabled adults for a local guardianship office. Honestly, my love has always been in the area of helping people. What better way is there to help someone, than helping them build their family through adoption?

I am an active member in the nationwide American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, past chair of the Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee, current chair of the Professional Advisory Board of Resolve, and recent publisher of the Illinois Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) handbook on adoption.

On a personal note, what truly compelled me to go into adoption law was the failed adoption we suffered. The hurt and frustration only fueled my desire for adoption reform. As a result, I worked closely on legislative revisions which became law in Illinois and strengthened the finality of adoptions.