Wood River Education Lawyers

A criminal and school law attorney with over 25 years experience, I have successfully represented clients all over the Chicago area in criminal, DUI and school law matters. My practice includes DUI, DCFS appeals, felony, criminal, misdemeanor, homicide, internet crime, retail theft, traffic offenses, cyberstalking, drug or narcotics crimes such as drug possession or drug dealing, weapons violations, domestic battery and juvenile crime. I can assist offenders in petitioning for pardons or commutations of sentences. I also represent families and teachers involving school cases including residency, academic disciplinary hearings and teacher termination matters. In addition, I co-authored 5 chapters...

Jason Spangehl is the Principal Attorney at the Law Office of Jason Spangehl in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. For nine years this practice has exclusively addressed immigration law in one of the fastest growing immigrant academic communities in the United States.

Jason brings nineteen years of experience in education at every level from elementary through post-secondary to his practice, including broad experience as an instructor at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, as a college administrator. He also works as executive consultant to senior administrators and governing boards at Universities across the country through his separate consulting practice, Spangehl Higher Education Associates.

The Law...

I represent clients in lawsuits in Illinois and courts around the country. My clients include whistleblowers, employees with pay and discrimiantion claims, students who face challenges at school, LGBTQ individuals fighting discrimination, individuals with significant personal injury claims, and complex business disputes. I bring substantial individual lawsuits and class action cases to fight discrimination in housing and healthcare, to stop racial bias in property tax asesssments, to end sexist employment tests by local governments, to protect the rights of individuals who live in nurising facilites, and to fight fraud. I also handle appeals in state and federal courts that include multiple successful...

TiShaunda McPherson is a seasoned employment and education attorney, with over 20 years of experience addressing institutional, regional and systemic discriminatory practices, with specialized expertise in Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the ADA and Section 504. A dedicated advocate for individuals facing or impacted by civil rights violations, TiShaunda is renowned for her ability to achieve successful results for her clients and providing visionary leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. TiShaunda has had an extraordinary professional career allowing her to bring unique and transformative insight into each case with compassion. Beginning as an associate...

• Practicing 48 years, Attorney Steven H. Jesser is the founder of Steven H. Jesser, Attorney at Law, P.C. He practices in health care law; appellate law (130 state/federal-civil-felony) appeals; administrative law; schools and education; state, local and municipal law; business and commercial law; probate, wills, trusts and estate administrations and government contracts. For his high ethical standards and long list of successful results, he holds the highest peer rating possible of AV Preeminent* from Martindale-Hubbell. • After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University, Mr. Jesser attended the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he obtained a Juris...

Jacob J. Frost practices in the areas of estate/trust administration, residential and commercial real estate purchases and sales, business organizations, governmental law, and wills and trusts. Attorney Frost has served and represented clients in the Illinois Valley area for several years. Frost earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law, with high honors in Legal Research and Writing. He received his Associate of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Illinois Valley Community College and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was admitted to both Phi Beta Kappa...

U.S. Air Force Veteran Michael S. Hopkins has been practicing law in Will and surrounding counties for more than a decade. He is a former prosecutor experienced in both the prosecution and defense of traffic and ordinance offenses, including misdemeanors. He is also well-versed in municipal law and has represented numerous clients in municipal matters, including liquor control, video gaming, planning and zoning, code enforcement, and boards of fire and police commissioners. Currently, Mr. Hopkins is accepting new clients in traffic, municipal, and general practice matters, including evictions.

In his free time, Michael is an avid motorcyclist and runner. ...

Mr. Gaffney began his legal career in the prestigious field of clerking for a Federal judge. He went on as an Assistant State’s Attorney to prosecute complex narcotic and gang cases.
Afterwards, he went into private practice in Harvard, Illinois where he serves his clients in the areas of State and Federal criminal defense, school law, second amendment issues, and general litigation.

Mr. Gaffney is especially proud of his record in the areas of expungement, clemency, pardons and sealed records. Utilizing these legal avenues, he has helped countless clients move forward with their lives.