Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

At the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, we are dedicated to protecting your rights and achieving the best outcome on your case, quickly and efficiently. As a former Will County prosecutor, I have the courtroom trial experience you can count on. I have tried criminal cases ranging from a speeding ticket to first degree murder, and if you have been charged with a criminal offense, you want an attorney who knows your case from the prosecutor perspective. I know their strategy and the techniques to counter them.

Don't delay. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, contact the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba for a free consultation. We handle felony and misdemeanor cases, including drug offenses, DUI, thefts, battery, burglary, robbery, and weapon offenses. We offer affordable rates and flat fees for most cases.

Jack began his dedicated legal career in the area of criminal law as a clerk for the Illinois Attorney General while attending law school. After graduating in 2003, Jack was offered a position in the Medicaid Fraud Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General, where he prosecuted complex white collar and financial crimes.

In 2006, Jack accepted an appointment as an Assistant State's Attorney in Will County. As a well-respected prosecutor in Will County, Jack disposed of hundreds of criminal cases with offenses ranging from DUI to first degree murder. Jack has acted as first chair on over fifty bench trials and over thirty jury trials. His courtroom performance is unrivaled, and his aggressive and effective courtroom demeanor has even been described as "electrifying".

Since beginning his own law firm, Jack has achieved successful outcomes in a wide range of criminal cases. His goal is to help each client avoid a conviction. Jack continues to put his aggressiveness and experience to work for his clients every day.

Practice Areas

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, our office has the criminal trial experience you can count on. You are presumed innocent and it is up to the state to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. As a former prosecutor, I have prosecuted many crimes including first degree murder and I know what will be required of the state, and I will put them to the task.

You need an aggressive criminal defense attorney. Contact the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba today if you have been charged with a criminal offense, including the following:

Felonies and Misdemeanors

* Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
* Drug Offenses - Trafficking or Possession
* Theft/Burglary
* Juvenile Crimes
* Sex Crimes
* Weapon Offenses
* Battery and Domestic Battery

DRUGS / NARCOTICS

Have you been arrested or are you under investigation for the possession or sale of illegal drugs? Do you have questions of whether the police can charge you with possession of those drugs? What if the drugs were found under the passenger seat of a car you were driving; or what if the drugs were in the trunk of the car? Do the police have the right to search you, your house or your vehicle?

These are questions that an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense drug lawyer can answer. As a former Will County Prosecutor, I have handled possession cases from a simple marijuana joint, to cocaine. If you have been charged with a drug offense, you want an experienced former prosecutor on your side.

DUI / TRAFFIC OFFENSES

At the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, you will have hired one of the most experienced and knowledgeable DUI Attorneys in Joliet. As a former prosecutor in Will County, I have handled hundreds of DUI cases and know how to present the best defense for your case. The area of DUI law is complex and I can help you navigate the process.

Hiring a skilled DUI criminal lawyer is key to a successful defense of your DUI arrest. The penalties, even for a first time arrest for DUI can be costly and may include the suspension of your license, heavy fines, and a possible jail sentence.

JUVENILE CRIMES

When a child is charged with a criminal offense it can be one of the most difficult things that a family can face. The realization that your son or daughter could receive a criminal conviction or worse, can be very stressful.

At the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, we understand the stress that this situation can cause and we are here to help. As your attorney, it is important to demonstrate to the court that your child is not a criminal, rather a young child who only used poor judgment. We represent clients charged with:

* Criminal trespass to vehicles or residences
* Theft or burglary
* School fights, assault and battery
* Illegal consumption by a minor (underage drinking)
* Possession of fake ID
* Weapon offenses
* Traffic offenses
* DUI
* Drug possession

Mistakes happen, and your son or daughter deserves a second chance.

Our goal is to keep your child from receiving a conviction and ultimately keep their record clean

I am a native Chicagoan, and moved to DuPage County in 1972.

I attended DePaul Law School full-time in the evening, while working for one of the major trust companies in the Chicago Loop. I therefore received extensive training and experience in Estate Planning, Probate and Tax matters, and have practiced in those areas for over 30 years.

My first employment after law school was with a Chicago law firm that specialized in Real Estate and Real Estate Development matters. I worked for them for several years, adding extensive experience in both residential and commercial real estate transactions and commercial real estate development to my legal expertise.

As a private practitioner in DuPage County, I continued practicing in these fields, and added representation of clients in divorce and other domestic and family related matters. I have now represented hundreds of clients relative to dissolution of their marriages. Several judges have also appointed me as Guardian ad-litem or attorney for children in troubled situations or in complex divorce cases.

I feel that my expertise in each of these areas compliment the other. For example, complex divorces often involve real estate or business holdings, with the accompanying valuation and ownership issues. Sometimes, a trust for the benefit of children is appropriate. In doing estate planning, there is often the need to plan appropriately for the second marriage situation. Real estate clients also often need to appropriately plan their estates, and to take title to their home in a manner that is consistent with their ultimate estate desires.

I was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois in 1971 and the U.S. Federal Court in 1971, and admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court in 1992. I am a member of both the Illinois and DuPage County Bar Associations.

I have been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn for some years, and am presently the President of the club. As such, I recently accepted, on behalf of our club, the Family Shelter Services Civic Partner of the year award. We work closely with Family Shelter Services and other organizations to provide benefits to children in need.

My primary hobby is the study of history, particularly of the American Civil War period. I am the past president of two Civil War Round Tables (Chicago and Salt Creek, which meets in Glen Ellyn, Illinois), and a member of three Round Tables (Chicago, Salt Creek and Milwaukee). I have also given presentations, on a number of topics, to round tables throughout the midwest.

The Law Office of Vincent F. Cornelius is a general practice, with a focus in criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Cornelius represents individuals, corporations, not-for-profit organizations and other business organizations.

Prior to establishing the Law Office of Vincent F. Cornelius, Mr. Cornelius was an associate with the Law Firm of James D. Montgomery and Associates, the predecessor firm of Cochran and Montgomery in Chicago, Illinois where he practiced in the areas of criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Cornelius is also a former DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney. He was involved in the prosecution of felony, misdemeanor, DUI, juvenile and domestic violence cases. He was evaluated a distinguished prosecutor.

Mr. Cornelius has extensive bench trial, jury trial, and administrative hearing experience. He has defended homicide, white collar, and other serious felony cases. He has also been involved in the settlement of multi-million dollar personal injury cases. He practices in DuPage, Cook, Will, Kane, Kendall and other counties.

Vincent received his Juris doctorate Degree from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1989. He received his BBA in Business Administration in 1986 from the University of St. Francis where he was an Academic All American athlete.

He has been honored frequently within and outside of the legal community. Mr. Cornelius' participation in the legal community and the community at large has included the following:

President, Illinois Bar Foundation (2008-2010)
Governor's Commission on Criminal Law Reform
Chancellor, Illinois Academy of Lawyers (2007)
Board of Regents, Illinois Academy of Lawyers
Illinois Bar Foundation Board of Directors
Fellow, Illinois Bar Foundation
Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors, Retired
Chicago Bar Association Committee on Federal Jury Service
Domestic Relations Expedited Matrimonial Fee Arbitrator
DuPage County Bar Association, Asst. Treasurer
Northern Illinois University College of Law, Alumni Council
Life Member, National Registry of Who's Who
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Alumni Chapter Board of Directors

At Donahue, Sowa & Magana, we are one of the oldest law firms in Illinois dedicated to criminal defense. Our criminal defense attorneys provide representation in all Illinois felonies and misdemeanors, including homicide, white-collar crime, and criminal appeals. Our lawyers have tried cases before every level of Illinois trial court, and have a track record of success.

We hold ourselves to the highest professional and ethical standards, and treat all of our clients with respect. The attorneys at Donahue, Sowa & Magana have the capacity, experience, and resources to handle even the most complex cases.

Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are in need of a criminal defense lawyer in northern Illinois, contact Donahue, Sowa & Magana at either our Lisle or Geneva office.

Mr. Shaw attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and graduated from Illinois College, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1983. He continued his education at the Northern Illinois University College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1986, and became a Licensed Attorney in Illinois on November 6, 1986.

Having previously practiced in general and family law practices, and having served as the Child Support Attorney for Kane County Circuit Court Clerk from 1987-1995,
Mr. Shaw opened his own law practice concentrating in family law in 1991. In 2000 he co-founded the law firm of Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C., St. Charles, Illinois, which concentrates its practice in family law, including dissolution of marriage, financial issues and custody litigation.

Mr. Shaw has been a legal Author and Lecturer for many years, and has served on family law committees including, the ISBA Family Law Section Council (having first served in 1991). He has authored and published articles in the ISBA Family Law newsletter and authored the first chapter of the Illinois Family Law Handbook. He has presented at family law seminars throughout the country.

On behalf of the ISBA Family Law Section Council Custody subcommittee, he
testified in Springfield before Illinois Supreme Court Custody Committee regarding proposed custody legislation on March 28, 2003.

Having a proven track record of success representing men, women and children in Illinois courts, Mr. Shaw has extensive court and trial experience. He has also served as a Mediator and Guardian ad Litem in Family Law cases, and has resolved numerous cases outside of court.

He has been interviewed on family law topics on both television and radio, and has volunteered his time at divorce support groups. Mr. Shaw is continues to serve as an attorney presenter at KIDS (Kids in a Divorcing Society) family court program for parents (1993- present), and is currently the Chair of the Kane County Family Law Committee. He and his firm also support various legal service groups that serve those in need.

Our experienced criminal defense lawyers at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C., have significant experience defending people charged with crimes.

Sandi Byrd entered private practice in October 2002 following nearly six years working as an attorney in the Kane County Public Defender's Office. Since entering private practice Sandi has represented clients in Kane, DuPage, Kendall, DeKalb, and Cook Counties. Sandi graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in 1996 and was admitted to practice law in Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois the same year. Since the beginning of her career Sandi has focused her practice almost exclusively in criminal defense. She has successfully tried many jury and bench trials including everything from minor traffic offenses to murder cases. Sandi is an active member of the Kane County Bar Association, currently serving as it General Counsel and as a member of the Criminal Law Committee, and is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Don Zuelke spent over sixteen years as an assistant public defender before entering the private practice in August of 2002. He has practice law for over 20 years, representing clients almost exclusively in criminal cases, and has successfully tried many jury and bench trials. Don graduated from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1984, and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that same year. He then worked as an assistant public defender in the Cook County Public Defender's Office for almost 6 years, followed by almost 11 years in the Kane County Public Defender's Office. He has represented thousands of individuals in criminal defense matters, in everything from DUI and other traffic offenses to murder and other felonies. He is a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar, qualified and authorized to represent clients in death penalty cases.

The attorneys at Zuelke & Byrd are committed to representing their clients zealously. Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent under the law and deserves to have his or her rights protected. Everyone is entitled to a strong defense no matter what the charges are or what the evidence against them is. The law firm of Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C. is dedicated to doing the best possible job for each client, providing each client with the individual attention necessary to successfully defend them. We work hard to get the best possible outcome in each case. Our attorneys are experienced trial attorneys, having successfully tried many jury and bench trials over many years, and will vigorously defend your case at trial.

For more information about our criminal defense lawyers, follow the links below or contact us at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C.