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/.