Biography
After practicing law for 7 years, Sarah started her Criminal and DUI Defense law firm 12 years ago as a solo practitioner, and has grown to have two associates and a paralegal. She represents defendants in cases ranging from misdemeanors through reckless homicides. In addition, she was an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law for 13 years where she taught Legal Writing, Criminal Law Writing as well as the Life After Innocence Clinic where students represented real clients and appeared at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse.
Sarah has been active in ISBA section councils since 2008. Over that time, she has served as Chair, Vice-Chair, Newsletter Editor, and a CLE Co-Chair for different committees. She started running for ISBA office in 2013 when she was elected to her first term in the Assembly. Eventually she ran for Board of Governors and is currently serving her 2nd term. While on the Board of Governors, her fellow board members elected her to the Scope and Correlation committee within the Board, and in 2023 as Treasurer of ISBA. In September, Sarah received an ISBA recognition for serving as Newsletter Editor for 15 years for the Traffic Laws & Courts section council. While Chair of Traffic, the section council drafted legislation to mandate video recordings of all traffic stops which was eventually passed into law. She has spoken 21 times at ISBA seminars.
In 2020, she was appointed by the Governor of Illinois to the Forensic Science Task Force as the only private lawyer to examine the efficiency of Illinois crime labs. The recommendations of the subcommittee that she led were implemented immediately and within 6 months, the backlog of the crime labs had decreased. In 2016, she was accepted into the month-long Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming with Gerry Spence, and in 2019, was asked to join the faculty.
Sarah was named Young Lawyer of the Year in 2014 by the Illinois State Bar Association. In 2021 the Women’s Bar Association awarded her a Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award. She is AV rated Preeminent lawyer by Martindale Hubble. In the past five years, she has appeared on Court TV and NBC 10 pm News to discuss current criminal cases and been named a Top 50 Woman Lawyer by Super Lawyers, and a Top 100 Lawyer by Super Lawyers.
In 2014, Sarah became a Charter Member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association where she served on the Board of Directors. In 2018, she was appointed to the Justice Foundation, the charitable arm of the DUI Association, which helps fundraise and award scholarships to seminars to lawyers in need, and she still serves on the Foundation today.
Sarah has authored a chapter in the IICLE handbook for DUIs, most recently in 2023. She is on the board of the IL Bar Foundation and serves on the Lawyers Care Committee, helping lawyers and their families in need. During Covid, she participated in awarding 50 grants to struggling lawyers. She also served on the Gala Committee for the IBF in 2020, helping to plan and raise funds for the annual fundraiser. She focused a lot of her attention on the silent auction for the Gala, which raised over $19,000 that year.
During Covid, Judge Evans appointed Sarah to a committee tasked to implement 24/7 access to orders of protection for survivors of domestic violence. This committee has successfully created overnight access and implemented ways to address the backlog of Order of Protection and Stalking cases at 555 W. Harrison. She also participated in the drafting of a proposed revision to Supreme Court Rule 415 in 2020.
In 2021, she was elected to the Board of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, where she currently serves.
Sarah’s other charitable activities include serving as Secretary of the Blane Foundation which has donated funds to Rotary to help eradicate polio and to local community organizations.
Sarah has been married to Patrick for 8 years and they have a golden retriever named Nola who makes life truly golden. She grew up in DuPage County and now lives in Chicago in Bronzeville.
I hope after reading about my experience within ISBA you will consider voting for me for ISBA 3rd Vice President. If you'd like to learn more about my candidacy and about me, please visit my site: SarahForISBA.com
Thank you!
My Summary of ISBA Activities:
- Treasurer of ISBA, elected 2023
- Board of Governors, elected 2019-present
- Scope and Correlation Committee, elected 2020-present
- Chair, Code of Conduct creation
- Assembly, 2013-present
- Traffic Laws and Courts, 2008 – present
- Chair, 2012-2013
- Vice-Chair, 2011-2012
- Secretary, 2010-2011
- Newsletter Editor, 2008-present
- Women & the Law, 2016-2023
- CLE Co-Chair, 2016-2017
- Newsletter Co-Editor, 2018-2020
- Criminal Justice, June 2017-2023
- Member Services, 2018-2020
- Solo and Small Firm Conference Planning Committee, 2016-present
- Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations Cook County, 2019-present
- Standing Committee on Legislation, 2021-present
- Law Office Management and Economics Standing Committee, 2012-2018
- Chair, 2016-2017
- Vice-Chair, 2015-2016
- Secretary, 2014-2015
- Board Liaison, Current
- Marketing and Communications, June 2014-2018
- Vice-Chair, 2017- 2018
- Secretary, 2016-2017
- Young Lawyers Division, 2009-2015
- Social Co-Chair, 2011-2015
- Social Media/Website/Membership/Publicity Chair, 2013-2015
- Holiday Party Co-Chair, 2012
- LAWPAC member, elected to two terms, 2012-2018
- Chair 2018
- Standing Committee on Investments, 2023-present
- Standing Committee on Budget and Audit, 2023-present
ISBA Related Activities:
- Illinois Bar Foundation, Board of Directors 2019-present
- Gala Committee, 2020
- Lawyers Care Committee, 2019-present
- ISBA Mutual, Board of Directors, 2021-present
Outside ISBA Activities:
- Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association, Secretary 2018-present
- Blane Foundation, Secretary, 2018-present
- DUI Defense Lawyers Justice Foundation, Board of Directors, 2018-present
- Cook County Domestic Violence Court 24/7 Orders of Protection Committee, 2022-present
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) member
Issue Statement
My goals for ISBA:
-ISBA As A One Stop Shop:
We have thousands of members, so the goal is to connect these members as much as possible. I’d like to see more opportunities for networking among members so that members don’t have to turn to outside organizations for growth.
-ISBA Is Impressed With You:
With its roughly 20,000 members, I’d like to see ISBA promote these members wherever possible. I’d like to see member spotlights each day, and other ways members can be promoted by highlighting what they do in their day jobs, and the work they put in for free to this association. ISBA awards are just one additional way we can promote members and they in turn can promote themselves.
-ISBA Simplified:
It can be confusing to figure out how to get involved in ISBA, or how to become a member. I’d like to make it easier for people to understand how to get involved.
-ISBA Wants To Be Friends:
I’d like to work closer with local and affinity bar associations so we can foster a feeling of true community and support, and to better coordinate each other’s events. ISBA should be promoting and working hand in hand with diverse bar associations so that they do not feel separate from ISBA. We should focus on building bridges, strengthening bonds, and being a resource for future diverse generations of lawyers through these bar associations. In addition, it's important to communicate to attorneys who aren’t members of ISBA the benefits of ISBA they aren’t realizing.
-ISBA Buddies:
When you're new to events or looking to get involved, the hardest part is walking through the door. I have told young lawyers and my law students in the past: get a buddy. Promise that you'll attend events together, so that you know you'll know at least one person there. Inevitably, you'll meet new people and need each other less, but the comfort level of having someone there will help motivate you to attend events. The leadership at ISBA will be at ISBA and related bar events, and should serve as that person to those looking to get involved. I would like to have a way to connect people looking to get more involved with the leadership who will not only be there, but be a good resource to make introductions.
-ISBA Communicates:
I would aim for the President to collaborate directly with the Chairs of each section council and committee to empower them to set their own agendas, make the meetings relevant to the members, and set any themes for the year. I would also want to improve communication with the Chairs about member involvement to make future appointments to sections and committees more transparent and to make sure the relevant voices are heard. The end goal is always to keep members engaged.
-ISBA Is Us:
Encompassed within all of the above goals, I would like to continue to work to promote diversity within the association. The organization should reflect the landscape and diversity of practicing lawyers in Illinois.
List of Campaign Supporters
- Alana De Leon (Chicago)
- Alon Stein (Northbrook)
- Angel Traub (Lombard)
- Angel Wawrzynek (Mattoon)
- Anisa Jordan (Chicago)
- Anna Krolikowska (Northbrook)
- Annemarie Kill (Chicago)
- Barb Crowder (Edwardsville)
- Bob Clifford (Chicago)
- Bridget Schott (Dixon)
- Brion Doherty (Chicago)
- Caroleann Gallagher (Park Ridge)
- Cheryl Niro (Chicago)
- Cindy Buys (Carbondale)
- David Franks (Lake in the Hills)
- David Sosin (Orland Park)
- Deane Brown (Chicago)
- Debra Thomas (Chicago)
- Deidre Baumann (Chicago)
- Dina Ninfo (Chicago)
- E. Lynn Grayson (Chicago)
- Eric Carlson (Edwardsville)
- Erin Wilson (Chicago)
- Federico Rodriguez (Cicero)
- Gloria Chevere (Chicago)
- Grace Dickler (Northbrook)
- Hannah Lamore (Joliet)
- Irene Bahr (Wheaton)
- James McCluskey (Naperville)
- Jaz Park (Chicago)
- Jennifer Irmen (Chicago)
- Jessica Durkin (Chicago)
- Jessica Marshall (Chicago)
- Jim Covington (Springfield)
- Jo Anna Pollock (Alton)
- John Hanson (Edwardsville)
- John Locallo (Chicago)
- John Nisivaco (Chicago)
- John O'Brien (Arlington Heights)
- John Sciaccotta (Chicago)
- Julie Herrera (Chicago)
- Julie Johnson (Elmhurst)
- Karoline Carstens (Glen Carbon)
- Kathryn Conway (Chicago)
- Katie Twardak (Chicago)
- Kelly Giraudo (Peoria)
- Kelly Thames Bennett (Chicago)
- Kenya Jenkins Wright (Chicago)
- Kristen Prinz (Chicago)
- Kristine Honiotes (Joliet)
- Larry Davis (Northfield)
- Leilani Pino (Chicago)
- Leonard Amari (Chicago)
- Lisa Nyuli (South Elgin)
- Lori Levin (Northbrook)
- Margie Komes (Sycamore)
- Mario Sullivan (Chicago)
- Michael Alkaraki (Chicago)
- Michael Strauss (Libertyville)
- Nicole Sartori (Yorkville)
- Paula Holderman (LaGrange)
- Ray Koenig (Chicago)
- Regina Rathnau (Chicago)
- Richard Felice (Wheaton)
- Richard Kling (Chicago)
- Richard Turner (Sycamore)
- Robert Deters (Round Lake Beach)
- Russell Hartigan (Burr Ridge)
- Sandra Crawford (Park Ridge)
- Sarah LeRose (Chicago)
- Stacey McCullough (Wheaton)
- Susan Rogaliner (South Elgin)
- Ted Donner (Wheaton)
- Tim Moran (Chicago)
- Timothy Eaton (Chicago)
- Timothy Ritchey (Chicago)
- Umberto Davi (Western Springs)
- Vincent Cornelius (Joliet)