Ted P. Hammel – 25 Years of Trusted Criminal Defense

Feb 16, 2023 | Featured Attorney

Ted P. Hammel – 25 Years of Trusted Criminal Defense

Ted Hammel is a seasoned criminal law attorney in the Joliet-area and founder of Hammel Law Offices P.C. with 25 years of criminal defense experience.

Hammel Law Offices P.C.’s website states that Hammel is an “active member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) 1) Criminal Justice Section Council, 2) Traffic Laws & Courts Section Council, and 3) Standing Committee On Judicial Evaluations – Outside Cook County.

Recently, he was elected to the Assembly of the ISBA. The Assembly is the supreme policy making body of the ISBA. Additionally, in Will County, he is Chairman of the Will County Bar Association Criminal Law Committee. He is a regular presenter at the Will County & ISBA’s seminars regarding Criminal, DUI and traffic offenses.

At the very beginning, Hammel didn’t plan for going to law school. He was originally in college for being a public accountant. “My roommates in college at Marquette were trying to come up with a lease because our flat was being remodeled. And the guy gave us a contract, but there wasn’t much to it, so I brought an addendum to the contract and then I knew I was going to law school,” Hammel said.

After graduating from Marquette University, he was employed at the Continental National Bank of Chicago. During law school, he clerked for the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Office VII Corp, Munich, Germany. Hammel then worked two years as an assistant public defender before establishing Hammel Law Offices P.C.

When asked about some of the highlights of his career, Hammel said, “I do a lot of DUI trials. Some of my favorite moments are winning appeals and winning trials.”

“Going to trial fuels my passion for criminal law,” Hammel said. “There’s a good group of state’s attorneys in the courthouse here in Will County and a good group of defense attorneys, and they all like going to trial and doing hearings; that’s what makes it fun.”

Hammel also has a passion for writing criminal justice articles and has written an article called, “Go Six” published for the Illinois State Bar Association. He is currently working on future articles. “I am also now back on the Traffic Law Committee, just as a member. We review case law, statutes, and any other tricks of the trade,” Hammel added.

Hammel notes multiple colleagues and mentors who have shaped his career, including Samuel Andreano, Alexander Bonds, Frank Andreano, Terry Wallace, and Daniel Kennedy.

“I don’t know anyone who takes more pride in their work than Ted,” said Frank Andreano of Andreano Law P.C. “He is a great, great lawyer: his dedication to his clients, his sense of humor, and the way he keeps up with all of the latest developments in criminal law.”

To learn more about Hammel Law Offices P.C., check out hammel-law.com.

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Eligible nominees must be a WCBA Member in good standing, and individuals cannot nominate themselves or members of their own firm.

The Board will review all nominations monthly and select one nominee to be featured. Individuals not selected will remain as nominees for future features.

If there are any questions please reach out to info@willcountybar.org or
(815) 726-0383.

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Featured Attorney Angela Henderson

Oct 14, 2022 | Featured Attorney

To Mentor is to Touch a Life Forever

By Rachel Barks

Attorney Angela Henderson, as seen on Legal Action and featured for Divorce & Family Law with Will County Judge – The Honorable David Garcia, has been in the law industry for 25 years, and is extremely well-versed in family law, divorce, and mediation. She is a respected, experienced professional focusing on family law issues with a single office located in Joliet, Ill. — Henderson & Mehta Law and Mediation Center.

Before stepping into law, Henderson worked in business, which was very helpful when she started launching her career as an attorney.

“25 years ago there weren’t many women in the legal field,” Henderson said. “I was 40 when I graduated; I knew a lot of friends through my business practices, who were attorneys, who wrote me letters of recommendations.”

“Being a mentor is a valuable way to run your life.”

Henderson has a strong passion for community service that has spanned across her entire career. Many accomplishments that she is proud of stem from this service. On the Henderson & Mehta Law and Mediation Center website it states that, “Her long-standing commitment to community service has not diminished as Angela currently coaches the mediation team at Lewis University.

As a team they have competed overseas from England to Scotland, and were invited to India. She explains that she really enjoyed being a mentor to all those kids that were in college, most of whom are attorneys now, so she gets to visit them when they come to court.

“The skills you learn in mediation become part of your personality, so it’s comfortable to do and enjoyable to do,” Henderson said.

Henderson has also had the opportunity to start and be the chair of the Guardian ad Litem Committee of the Will County Bar Association. Henderson loves teaching and through this she was able to organize and help teach the ten hour accreditation class to become a Guardian ad Litem. She also helps teach the 40 hours mediation class that is geared towards attorneys and judges.

“Angela cares deeply about everyone that she works with. She is always looking for opportunities to provide mentorships to others; she also has a love of teaching,” said Courtney Mehta of Henderson & Mehta Law and Mediation Center.

Henderson is also involved with the Law Student Externship Program at the courthouse with Judge Archambeault. It’s where law students, usually first-year law students, come to work at the courthouse for free for the summer. Henderson teaches them a mini mediation class, takes them on field trips to the Appellate Court and the Federal Court, and more. They take in about ten students a summer that way.

The externship program takes a lot of commitment, so she assists Judge Archambeault in putting it together.

“I’ve been with her since the beginning of a ten year program, so we’ve helped a lot of new lawyers get their start.” Henderson said.

“You get more out of the mentoring process than the mentee gets. You have to understand your job well enough to teach it, and you have to understand how to communicate with people and how to be helpful to people,” She added. “Those are skills that make a good lawyer.”

To learn more about Henderson & Mehta Law and Mediation Center, visit angelahendersonlaw.com.

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Eligible nominees must be a WCBA Member in good standing, and individuals cannot nominate themselves or members of their own firm.

The Board will review all nominations monthly and select one nominee to be featured. Individuals not selected will remain as nominees for future features.

If there are any questions please reach out to info@willcountybar.org or
(815) 726-0383.

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Featured Attorney Gary Mueller

Apr 26, 2022 | Featured Attorney

Give Back Something of Great Value

By Rachel Barks

Gary Mueller has worked in the law industry for over 32 years, served in numerous nonprofit organizations, as a community college adjunct professor, and is a member of many organizations including the Real Estate Section Council for the ISBA, past President of Will County Bar Association, fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and more.

Mueller started his law firm, Mueller & Associates, Ltd., after working with McKeown Law Firm and Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, concentrated in transactional law and mitigation and as an income partner.

Being able to help others is very rewarding to Mueller, and those stories he carries with him throughout his career.

“Honestly, the most important, most rewarding part about being an attorney is being able to assist others, especially those who are less fortunate,” Mueller said. “I’ve been very fortunate and blessed in my life, with what I’ve been provided, the opportunities and guidance I’ve been given and I like being able to share that with others.”

Early in his life, Mueller didn’t plan to work in law. He came from a family of teachers and expected to become a doctor. Being able to open his law firm was a large accomplishment for him but he credits that to the amazing mentors he’s had and uses this to give back to the community.

“It’s a great opportunity that individuals in many professions have, to give back and give back something of great value,” He said.

For Mueller, giving back looks like the work he does within the law firm every day and his work for nonprofits over the years. He was a Steward of the Gertrude P. Zalar Alzheimer’s Center, which has since disbanded but are memories he holds dearly.

He has also done legal work within the real estate industry which he states is very rewarding. Mueller was recently selected to serve as a member of the Real Estate Section Council for the ISBA. He authors a monthly article for all REALTOR® members of the Three Rivers Association of REALTORS®.

Mueller notes that many stories come out of legal careers and numerous have positively shaped his journey. One from many years ago, he notes, is when he was asked to represent a young couple that was experiencing difficulty having a child. They worked with a young lady out of Ohio who was going to be the couple’s surrogate, which was difficult due to the distance.

“One of my most favorite moments is that the best possible thing happened after we had that set up. It was all up and running and the couple got pregnant on their own. With the combination of surrogacy and natural birth, they now have two beautiful daughters who were born two weeks apart,” Mueller said.

“Mr. Mueller has dedicated his practice to the Will County legal community. He has served with dignity and honor. He exemplifies all of the characteristics of a practicing attorney who gives back to the community,” said Frank Czervenyak, another member of the Will County law community and one of Mueller’s right-hand colleagues.

Mueller personally thanks the following attorneys for their help and guidance throughout his career: Justice Daniel Ward, Joseph Fitzgerald, Douglas Hutchison, Steve Veltman, Frank Cservenyak, Ken Grey, Marty Cann, Mike Wojtak, Myles Jacobs, Jan Pena, Dorothy Seaborg, and all on the WCBA Real Estate Committee.

To learn more about Gary S. Mueller and Mueller & Associates, Ltd., visit muellaw.com

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Eligible nominees must be a WCBA Member in good standing, and individuals cannot nominate themselves or members of their own firm.

The Board will review all nominations monthly and select one nominee to be featured. Individuals not selected will remain as nominees for future features.

If there are any questions please reach out to info@willcountybar.org or
(815) 726-0383.

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Giving Back for Equal Opportunities

Feb 8, 2022 | Featured Attorney

Giving Back for Equal Opportunities

By Rachel Barks

The Will County law community has multiple leaders of the trade dedicated to giving back to the coming generations. Frank Cservenyak of Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC from Joliet, Ill. is one of those leaders.

This year Frank Cservenyak and Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC are joining an annual collaboration with the Will County Bar Association, the Black Bar Association of Will County, Latino Bar Association of Will County, Will County Women’s Bar Association and Spesia & Taylor Attorneys at Law to sponsor the 2022 Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship.

Cservenyak grew up less fortunate in a two-bed apartment with his mom, which opens his heart to sponsor giving back to younger individuals who may have similar struggles.

“I hope these students can see in me, a young kid from the South Side, that ‘if he can do it, so can I.’ I think it’s an important message to send to young people, that this is possible, you can do it with the desire and discipline,” Cservenyak said.

He believes this scholarship to be realistic and tangible assistance with a monetary aspect to it, and it makes him think of his role models and support system when going through law school. He hopes this will be encouraging to students and remind them that their dreams are just that: tangible.

“The purpose of this program is to encourage diversity within the Will County legal community by awarding a scholarship to an incoming first year Black or Latino Law Student,” the Will County Bar Association website said.

Recipients of the Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship can earn up to $46,000 to assist in paying for their legal education by practicing law in Will County after graduation, which will allow them to insert themselves into the community.

Cservenyak is one of Chicago’s premier personal injury attorneys and has been in the practice of law for 34 years. He practices in several counties such as Will, Grundy, DuPage, Cook, Kendall and Kane. He is also a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and Illinois State and American Bar Associations.

Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC started in 1998 with Cservenyak being one of the firm’s founders. They wanted to do things a little differently and provide even better service to their clients, thus starting their own law firm and making a leap of faith to go digital.

“I think you have an obligation to give back to the community in which you are successful,” Cservenyak said. “I don’t think you can be successful without giving back.”

Cservenyak also believes these scholarships give current students who are considering applying the chance to look at past recipients and know that if that individual can do it, they can too.

Last year’s recipient of the Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship was Adrian Gomez, a Rockdale resident, and son of immigrants from Mexico, with the aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

“I hope students from all walks of life can look at this and go “hey, I can do this,’” Cservenyak said.

For more information on the 2022 Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship or to apply visit https://willcountybar.net/scholarship/.

To learn more about Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC and Frank Cservenyak visit https://www.rcklawfirm.com.

Nominate an Attorney

Eligible nominees must be a WCBA Member in good standing, and individuals cannot nominate themselves or members of their own firm.

The Board will review all nominations monthly and select one nominee to be featured. Individuals not selected will remain as nominees for future features.

If there are any questions please reach out to info@willcountybar.org or
(815) 726-0383.

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Serving the Community: In and Out of Law

Nov 22, 2021 | Featured Attorney

Featured Attorney of the Month Leslie Allred

Serving the Community: In and Out of Law

By Rachel Barks

Leslie Allred has a special touch when it comes to her attorney and lawyer work, driven by her passion for the Will County area and dedication to community service as a professional and individual.

A Heart for Others

“I have always known that I wanted to be in a position where I could help people! Even as early as second grade I circulated a petition to each member of my class to sign for one of my best friends because I felt she had been wronged,” Allred said. “I actually presented it to the teacher!”

The heart of her work is in giving back to the community and considers it an honor to serve the area in which she grew up.

“Whether it is participating hands-on at community events, raising money for organizations, or even just speaking at different schools about being an attorney…it is one of my driving forces, to give back and pay it forward to my hometown and neighboring areas,” Allred said.

Community service is a staple in her life and one she honors through O’Dekirk, Allred & Associates, LLC, such as participating and supporting as many different community programs and groups as they possibly can. As an individual, Allred takes part in volunteering for different, personal community service projects.

She also serves as the current president of the Wilmington Foundation for Excellence, a non-profit organization that raises scholarship money for graduating seniors and creates grant money for the district teachers to expand their resources outside of what the school can offer, a Wilmington City alderman, and active member of the Will County Bar Association.

Above and Beyond

Allred didn’t find her calling for law right away but has made a lasting footprint ever since stepping into it. Currently, she works as a Managing Partner at O’Dekirk, Allred & Associates, LLC. She has a bundle of awards under her belt as well, including National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, Joliet Area Young Professional of the Year, and Kankakee County Women in Business Honoree.

“Working with Leslie makes me love my job more; her positivity lights up our office and inspires us all to be our best selves,” said Caitlin Davenport, O’Dekirk, Allred & Associates, LLC paralegal & office manager. “She instilled in us that sky’s the limit not only at work but also in our personal lives.”

Her love for being an attorney is true and life-long. She explains that some of her favorite moments are the times when she could connect with a victim as a prosecutor or a client in private practice and at the end of their case feel that in some small way, she changed their lives.

“There are some simple, “thank you’s” that I have received at the end of a case that I will honestly carry with me for a lifetime,” Allred said.

Allred credits her unassailable work ethic to the mentors she’s had throughout the journey of her career and her tight-knit family, both of which sparked the drive to perpetually set goals, work toward them, and the importance of having strong basics and keeping them fresh.

To learn more about Leslie Allred and O’Dekirk, Allred & Associates, LLC visit https://www.odekirklaw.com/meet-the-team/leslie-matlock-allred/.

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Eligible nominees must be a WCBA Member in good standing, and individuals cannot nominate themselves or members of their own firm.

The Board will review all nominations monthly and select one nominee to be featured. Individuals not selected will remain as nominees for future features.

If there are any questions please reach out to info@willcountybar.org or
(815) 726-0383.

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Speaking Truth to Power: The Legacy of Raymond Bolden

Oct 22, 2021 | Featured Attorney

Speaking Truth to Power: The Legacy of Raymond Bolden

As a highly esteemed lawyer and judge in the Joliet area, Raymond Bolden had the power to give a case context, and tell a captivating story of why it mattered. He was also a beloved friend, mentor, and more, with many individuals looking up to him professionally and as an individual. His legacy will forever have a print within the Will County legal community.

“If the community needed a credible voice to speak truth to power, Judge Bolden was always up to the task,” said Will County Circuit Judge, Vincent Cornelius. “If he was invited to be the guest speaker, you could expect a packed house. You left one of his speeches less ignorant, more knowledgeable, and with food for thought.”

Bolden was Will County’s first Black Assistant State’s Attorney, President of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a criminal defense lawyer, Will County Associate Judge, and Circuit Court Judge. Recognized as a trailblazer by his fellow lawyers, judges, and loved ones, he also had many awards and accolades, as well as being one of the founders of the Warren Sharpe Center and the Black Bar Association of Will County.

“The impact of his influence and service to our Will County community and beyond will continue to serve and benefit future generations,” said Will County Associate Judge, Chrystel Gavlin. “Many of us [judges] have considered the time we spent in his courtroom as one of the best experiences in our legal careers.”

A life passion for Bolden included speaking up about racism, inequality, and the unfair treatment of people of color in the legal system. He was active in the civil rights movement throughout his life and career and will go down in history as a patron of African American attorneys and judges in the community.

Those who knew Bolden as a judge and person fervidly believe he had a natural understanding of people, a sense of discernment, and distinctive compassion. Being an exceptional judge was inside of him, something that will remain long after his professional presence.

“Raymond Bolden was small in height but stood tall in his determination to improve the lives of others; he practiced what he preached,” said 12th Judicial Circuit Judge, Carmen Goodman. “For me, personally, Judge Bolden was my idol, my hero, and my friend.”

Goodman recounts a dear memory of Bolden sitting in his kitchen during the Christmas holidays as he gathered young African American lawyers together that later became the Black Bar Association of Will County, the first African American lawyers’ association outside of Cook County. They admired his fair and even-tempered ways, and ability to be a great listener, confident, respectful, and always willing to provide honest feedback.

Bolden’s wise, compassionate, and courageous touch will forever be missed within the Will County legal community but his spirit and memory as a lawyer and judge live on.

“I always loved to see Ray holding court around the house and at gatherings of family and friends,” Cornelius said. “His pipe would be ablaze, his head slightly tilted, his smile confident, and his wit quick and sharp. He was an unrivaled storyteller.”

Nominate an Attorney

Eligible nominees must be a WCBA Member in good standing, and individuals cannot nominate themselves or members of their own firm.

The Board will review all nominations monthly and select one nominee to be featured. Individuals not selected will remain as nominees for future features.

If there are any questions please reach out to info@willcountybar.org or
(815) 726-0383.

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