Chicago Lawyers

The beautiful windy city of Chicago has long been a key player in the USA’s economic game. Many of the world’s largest companies have an office in Chicago, and it is a hub for some of the most important economic and financial institutions in the world.

With more and more businesses heading to Chicago, there is more demand than ever for qualified lawyers. Not only are lawyers required in the business world, but it is becoming increasingly trendy for the public to hire lawyers for all sorts of cases big and small. In recent years people have become more aware of their legal rights as a citizen, which is the main contribution to this changing trend.

To be able to practice law in Chicago you must be licensed to practice in Illinois. It is essential that when you hire a lawyer that they are licensed in the state that you reside in, as laws vary greatly between states and it is important that your lawyer understands the laws that apply to you and your case.

You can be bombarded with an overwhelming choice of lawyers when you begin your search. The best way to overcome this is to know what exactly you are after in a lawyer, including what specialty area they need to have expertise in. Perhaps you have a very general legal enquiry and a general practitioner will suffice, and will be much cheaper than unnecessarily hiring a specialist.

If you are after the best of the best, and you think you have a large case, heading to some of the top lawyers and law firms in Chicago will maximize your chance of success - although obviously there are never any guarantees.

Chicago is home to some of the largest and best law firms in the United States. Some of the largest include: Baker & McKenzie; DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary; Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, and Mayer Brown, Rowe & Maw. These law firms are all based in Chicago, but most have offices across the United States as well as across the world.

Baker & McKenzie is the largest law firm in the United States. It has over 3,300 attorneys working at the firm, as well as 1,136 partners and 2,173 associates. The average salary of associate lawyers at the firm ranges from $97,000 - $125,000.

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary is the second largest law firm in the United States, and boasts 3,159 attorneys, 1,134 partners and 1,917 associates. The average salary is very similar to that of Baker & McKenzie. They have offices throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East as well as the USA. Their head office is in Chicago and they are well equipped to handle cases in any area of the law.

Although those are the largest in Chicago, big does not always mean better. Sometimes it is best to find a specific lawyer rather than head to a law firm.

If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer, then the best lawyer in this area in Chicago (as awarded at the Best Lawyer Awards 2009) is Robert Clifford. He is a nationally renowned and respected personal injury lawyer and has been on the Best Lawyer’s list for over two decades.

David Ackerman, also working in Chicago was nominated as one of the best lawyers in the area of employee benefits law. He graduated from Harvard Law School and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1974.

In the area of insurance law, John D. Shugrue is one of the best lawyers in not only Chicago but in the whole of the United States. He has a high success rate and is highly respected by his peers as well as his clients. He graduated from the University of Denver then completed law school at the University of North Caroline before being admitted to the Illinois bar in 1987. He specializes in all areas of insurance law as well as others including: insurance recovery; insurance coverage advice and litigation; and commercial litigation.

Another of one of Chicago’s many highly praised lawyers is Philip A. Miscimarra, who is renowned for his expertise in the area of labor and employment law. As well as being a fantastic lawyer, he is also a partner in Morgan Lewis’s Labor and Employment Practice in Chicago and a senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. He has represented many high profile cases.

Although these are some of the top lawyers in Chicago, there are thousands of others out there to suit you. Research is the key, and with so many available it shouldn’t take you long to find a fantastic lawyer in Chicago.