Sharon L. Falen
Sharon L. Falen has committed herself to advocacy in family law since the
inception of her professional career. Sharon received her Bachelor’s
degree at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and received
her Juris Doctor degree at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, earning
a Certificate in Child and Family Law. In her final year of law school,
she served as part of the Executive Board of the
Children’s Legal Rights Journal, and she worked in Loyola’s Child Law Clinic representing youth
in abuse and neglect cases and serving as guardian
ad litem in contested divorce proceedings. Since her admission to the Illinois
Bar in 2015, Sharon has had experience in domestic relations, special
education law, probate, and juvenile court matters. She has worked in
private practice and served as guardian
ad litem in both probate and domestic relations proceedings. Currently Sharon is
an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association and DuPage Bar
Association.
Current Position:
Areas of Practice:
Bar Admission:
Education:
-
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- Juris Doctor, May 2015
- Honors: Certificate in Child and Family Law
- Honors: Dean’s List
-
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
- Bachelor of Arts in English, May 2012
- Honors: Edmund J. James Scholar Honors
- Honors: Dean’s List
Certifications:
- Certified Guardian ad Litem, Circuit Court, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit,
Lake County Domestic Relations
- Certified Guardian ad Litem, Circuit Court, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit,
Lake County Probate
Published Works:
- Reform in School Discipline in Illinois, The Docket, June 2017
- A Critical Analysis of the Collaboration of Child Welfare Professionals,
Praxis, Fall 2014, Vol. 13
- Legislative Update: The House’s Response to At-Risk Children Without
a Home, Children’s Legal Rights Journal, January 2014, Vol. 34, Issue 2
Additional Honors and Awards:
- Emerging Lawyer, 2017
- Bergstrom Child Welfare Law Fellow, University of Michigan Law School, 2014
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- DuPage County Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County
- Chicago Bar Association
- Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, University of Illinois
- Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, University of Illinois
Charitable Activities:
- Lake County Minor Guardianship Help Desk, Volunteer Attorney
- Prairie State Legal Services Borderless Pro Bono Project
