Criminal Law

Courtney Kelledes

Courtney Kelledes fights for individuals with past records and criminal justice system involvement to restore their rights and opportunities. Before co-founding Rights and Restoration Law Group LLC, Courtney was the Director of Employment Training at Growing Home in Englewood. There she led a multidisciplinary team in providing holistic employment support to motivated job seekers. Prior to Growing Home, Courtney was Cabrini Green Legal Aid’s Lead Attorney of Collaborative Partnerships where she successfully represented hundreds of individuals in petitions for Sealing and Expungement, Certificates of Rehabilitation, Health Care Worker Waivers, Executive Clemency, and Professional Licensing. Courtney currently volunteers with the Chicago Community Bond Fund, John Howard Association C-Number Project, Cabrini Green Legal Aid, CARPLS, and DePaul’s Neighborhood Legal Assistance Project. Courtney graduated from DePaul University College of Law cum laude, with a certificate in public interest law, and earned her bachelor’s degree cum laude from Eastern Michigan University.

Courtney can be reached at (312)672-9967 or courtney@rightsandrestorationlaw.com. This firm does not charge a consultation fee.

Ashley Rodriguez

Ashley N. Rodriguez is a social justice advocate fighting to protect the rights and preserve the futures of her clients. Ashley is the Founder of Second Chance Law — a law firm dedicated to providing its clients access to justice in an unjust system. She is committed to bringing justice to her clients through holistic legal representation by connecting them to community resources and hosting educational workshops about one’s rights. Ashley earned her Bachelors in Criminal Justice from Texas State University and Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School. She currently volunteers as a pro bono attorney at First Defense Legal Aid.

Ashley can be reached at ashley@secondchance-law.com or 312.971.6673. This firm charges a consultation fee ranging from $100 to $500 depending on location. All consultation fees will be credited towards the legal fee if the client engages the firm.

Paul Lytle

Paul Lytle is a partner at Lytle & Milan, LLC. Paul’s mission is to provide legal representation that is accessible, responsive, and accountable to the unique needs of individuals and families throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. In a divergence from traditional billing practices, Paul seeks to fulfill his commitment to accessibility by offering clients a range of customizable solutions that includes flat rate fees, unbundled services, and limited scope representation. Paul provides clients with comprehensive representation in the areas of Criminal Defense Law and Family Law. Paul also provides limited representation in matters of Consumer Law. As an active member of the community, Paul is extremely proud to provide pro bono services in conjunction with such notable non-profit organizations as CARPLS, LAF, and Universidad Popular.

Paul can be reached at (312) 690-4111 or paul@thelytlelawgroup.com. This firm does not charge a consultation fee.

Sussetthe Renteria

Mark Almanza

Mark Almanza is an alumnus of University of Chicago Law School and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Mark is committed to working with clients to obtain affordable access to the legal representation they deserve. Prior to founding Almanza Law, Mark worked at Lawndale Christian Legal Center, a non-profit law office representing youth in juvenile and criminal court, and has handled numerous felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases ranging from DUI through First Degree Murder. Mark currently works with First Defense Legal Aid providing representation during arrest and investigations by the Chicago Police Department. As a child of immigrant parents, Mark understands the difficulties the immigrant community faces and is dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of the immigration system. Additionally, Mark has experience in real estate issues including handling mortgage foreclosures during the housing crisis and landlord/tenant issues. Mark focuses his practice on criminal defense, immigration, and residential real estate.

Mark can be reached at (312) 380-9012 or mark@almanzalaw.com. This firm charges a $100 consultation fee. You can book a consultation here.

Kimber Russell

Kimber is a criminal defense attorney who prioritizes protecting her client’s rights. The criminal justice system, especially in Illinois, can be a terrifying and disorienting experience, and Kimber excels in helping clients understand and navigate the court system. Kimber is a fighter with a keen sense of justice who will stand up and not back down when the case is challenging. Having a clear criminal record is key to accessing employment, housing, and so many other core human necessities, which is why one of Kimber’s core practice areas is in Criminal Records Relief. 2020 brings with it a huge opportunity for many people who have been arrested and convicted for cannabis possession to have their records cleared and to get a fresh start, and Kimber is ready to help. Kimber is an active member of the Chicago legal community, taking on many leadership roles within the Chicago Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. Kimber’s focus is on diversifying the legal profession, especially by supporting women and people of color in accessing, navigating and succeeding in law school, the bar exam, and the legal profession at large. As the incumbent Co-Chair of the Alliance for Women (the largest sub-committee of the Chicago Bar Association), Kimber spearheaded programming, Continuing Legal Education, and events to empower women attorneys to continue to break barriers in the field of law.

Kimber can be reached via email kimber.russell@vanguardadvocates.com or phone at (312) 344-3804. This firm charges a consultation fee ranging from $100 to $500 depending on the type of the case.

Nikki Donnelley

Nikki Donnelley is a zealous advocate for individuals coping with the impact of their criminal records, as well as those who are still behind bars. Her passion for working with people impacted by the criminal legal system began while studying public policy at DePaul University, where she studied the implications of local laws on Chicago’s residents. Since this time,Nikki has continued to fight against systemic injustice in her role as a staff attorney at Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA). At CGLA, she represented hundreds of clients in successfully mitigating their criminal records through sealing and expungement, executive clemency, healthcare waivers, certificates of good conduct, and at hearings in front of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.  Notably, in 2017, Nikki successfully argued and won a petition to seal her  client’s conviction for murder- one of the first of such convictions to be sealed in Illinois history.  While at CGLA, Nikki co-launched a project assisting over twenty-five incarcerated survivors of domestic violence file motions to reduce their sentences after there was a change in sentencing laws, allowing domestic battery to be considered by Judges in sentencing. In addition to directly representing clients, Nikki has trained and supervised hundreds of pro bono attorneys representing clients in their petitions for executive clemency.

Nikki can be reached at (872)239-4533 or  nikki@rightsandrestorationlaw.com. This firm does not charge a consultation fee.

Amanda Carey

We are the Carey Center: Where you can find solutions and support for problems facing everyday Americans.  Amanda, our founder and Attorney at the Carey Center for Justice, has a deep passion for helping people and has been doing so for well over 20 years.  Amanda started her career in assisting others by working in higher education as a Lecturer at Washington State University where she taught Public Speaking, Linguistics, and Diversity courses.  Ultimately, Amanda became a President of multiple colleges across the State of Illinois and Indiana before deciding to go to law school.  Amanda holds a bachelors and master’s degree in Communication from Washington State University, a Doctorate of Higher Education from Northern Illinois University and a Juris Doctorate from Mitchell Hamline University.  Amanda strives to create a welcoming environment at the Carey Center where client needs are at the center of everything we do.

Amanda can be reached via email at amanda@careycenter.org or 312-870-0098. This firm charges $150 for consultations that will be credited toward the bill if the firm accepts your case.

Robert Alexander

Rob is a fighter and guide for people facing the criminal prosecution system in Chicagoland. He is a founder and partner at Vanguard Advocates, LLP, a law practice focused on people and problem-solving. Vanguard Advocates, LLP is driven by a mission to provide legal services that are affordable, with clear and predictable pricing, so that your focus can be on your criminal, traffic, or juvenile justice issue. If your case is over, Vanguard Advocates, LLP stands ready to help you with criminal records relief, including adult records sealing and expungements. Rob earned a BA at Morehouse College and his JD at DePaul University College of Law. He is licensed in Illinois and a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association.

Rob can be reached at robert.alexander@vanguardadvocates.com or 312-219-5931. This firm charges a consultation fee ranging from $100 to $500 depending on the type of the case.

Garrett Thomas

Garrett is an experienced litigator and trial attorney. His practice focuses primarily on criminal defense, civil rights, orders of protection, and related areas. Garrett has navigated clients through a myriad of criminal and civil proceedings in courts across the Chicago area. He studied political science at Washington University in St. Louis and attended law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. As a new attorney at a criminal justice advocacy organization, he worked on his team’s high stakes defense cases, served clients facing asset forfeiture, and argued on behalf of juveniles before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Garrett has represented clients in a wide range of trials, hearings, investigations, and negotiations. He handles matters throughout Cook County and is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Garrett’s firm is committed to excellent service and regularly obtains positive results for clients. If you need assistance or representation, his office can be reached at 872-256-1228 or info@garrettthomaslaw.com. This firm charges a consultation fee ranging from $200 to $300 depending on the type of case.

Lee A. Ayers