Lawyer Overview

Areas of Practice

• General Practice of Law
• Domestic Relations (Divorce, Custody, Support, Juvenile)
• Adoption
• Estate Planning
• Probate
• Debtor/Creditor
• Mediation
• Real Estate
• Traffic
• Social Security
• Personal Injury
• Workers' Compensation
• Criminal Defense
• Bankruptcy

West Practice Categories

Mediation, Debtor/Creditor, Criminal Law, Traffic Violations, Estate Planning, Family Law, Adoption, Social Security -- Disability, Social Security -- Retirement & Survivors Benefits, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Real Estate Law, Workers' Compensation Law

Bar Admissions

• Missouri, 2000
• Illinois, 1982
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1983
• U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1991

Certification/Specialties

• Special Needs Adoption/Guardianship Certification, Illinois Dept of Children & Family Services, 2001
• Special Needs Adoption Certification, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2001
• Adoption Mediation Certification, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2001
• Mediation Certification, 1992

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Bankruptcy Association of Southern lllinois (BASIL)
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1990 - 2008
• American Bar Association Illinois Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Association
• Madison County Bar Association
• Alton/Wood River/Jerseyville Bar Association
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
• Women Lawyers Bar Association
• American Association for Justice
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Illinois Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA)
• Southwestern Illinois Speech and Hearing Association (SWISHA)
• St. Louis Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
• Missouri Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
• National Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
• Illinois Council for Children with Learning Disabilities

Honors and Awards

• 2007 Congressional Order of Merit, July 9, 2007
• 2007 National Leadership Award, Hon. Chairman, Business Advisory Council, 2007
• 2007 Honors Edition, Biltmore Who's Who among Executive and Professional Woman, January 18, 2007
• 2001 Business Woman of the Year - Illinois, Business Advisory Council, Republican Natl. Com., 2002
• 1997 People's Choice Award, Best Attorney; Alton Telegraph, Alton, Illinois, October 30, 1997
• Valedictorian, Graduate Honors, Graduate Program Communication Disorders, Northwestern University, 1973
• Rehabilitation Services Administration Graduate Traineeship, Northwestern University, 1972 - 1973
• Phi Beta Kappa, University of Illinois, 1972
• Mortar Board, Women's Honorary, University of Illinois, 1971
• Alpha Lambda Delta, University of Illinois, 1969 - 1972
• Sigma Alpha Eta Honorary, University of Illinois, 1969 - 1972
• State of Illinois Teacher's Educational Scholarship, 1969 - 1972
• Edmund J. James Scholar, 1969
• Kappa Delta Pi Honorary, 1969
• Judge, Soroptomist of Alton; Fourteenth Annual Youth Citizenship Award, Alton, Illinois, 1984
• Nationwide Register of Who's Who in Executives and Business, 1999 - 2000
• Nationwide Register of Who's Who in Executives and Business, 1999 - 2000
• 2007 Nationwide Register of Who's Who in Executive and Business

Classes and Seminars

• "Guardianships for Disabled Adults", Bar Assoc. of Metropolitan St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, April 23, 2002
• "Ask the Lawyer", WBGZ Radio, Alton, Illinois, February 18, 2002
• "Let's Talk Business", WBGZ Radio, Alton, Illinois, January 24, 2002
• "Estate Planning and Adoption", Family Tree, St. Louis, MO., June 11, 2000
• "Ask A Lawyer About Adoption", WBGZ Radio, Alton, Illinois, February 29, 2000
• "Estate Planning Basics", Primerica, Alton Senior Citizens, Alton, IL, December 17, 1999
• "Ask A Lawyer Day" - Fall, WBGZ Radio, Alton, Illinois, 1999
• "Ask A Lawyer Day" - Spring, WBGZ Radio, Alton, Illinois, 1999
• "Estate Planning Basics", Colonial Care Nursing Home, Granite City, IL, April 20, 1999
• "Estate Planning Basics", Bethalto Kiwanis Club, Bethalto, IL, March 4, 1999
• "Six Easy Steps to Estate Planning", with A.G. Edwards, Collinsville Library, Collinsville, IL, February 4, 1999
• "Six Easy Steps to Estate Planning", with A.G. Edwards, Bethalto Library, Bethalto, IL, November 5, 1998
• "The Adoption Option", United Hebrew Cong, with Jewish Family Services and Agency for Planning, Chesterfield, MO, October 19, 1998
• "Why the Living Trust is Replacing the Will", Jerseyville Community Hospital, May 21, 1998
• "Ask A Lawyer Day" - Spring, WOKZ Radio, Alton, Illinois, 1998
• "Why the Living Trust is Replacing the Will", First Community Bank, Godfrey, IL, February 26, 1998
• "Why The Living Trust is Replacing the Will", Wood River Library, Wood River, IL, December 4, 1997
• "Estate Planning for Seniors", Senior Widows Meeting, August 28, 1996
• "Ask A Lawyer Day", WOKZ Radio, Alton, Illinois, November 13, 1995
• "Credit Union Law", Atlas Credit Union Board of Directors Meeting, February 9, 1993
• "Credit Union Law", Atlas Credit Union Board of Directors Meeting, January 15, 1992 - January 16, 1992
• "Private Adoption", Kiwanis, Alton, Illinois, 1991
• "Women and the Law", Alton Museum of History and Art, Alton, Illinois, February 10, 1990
• "Private Adoption", All-Adopt Support Group, Alton, Illinois, September 8, 1990
• "Women and Their Finances", Alton Community Service League, Alton, Illinois, January 8, 1990
• "Estate Planning", American Association of University Women, Alton, Illinois, 1990
• "Estate Planning", American Association of Retired Persons, Alton, Illinois, 1989
• "Women and Their Finances", Edwardsville Business and Professional Women, Edwardsville, Illinois, November 15, 1989
• "Everything Women Want to Know About Money But Are Afraid to Ask", Collinsville Business Professional Women, Collinsville, Illinois, March 15, 1989
• "The Legal Profession", Career Awareness Week, East Alton/Wood River High School, Wood River, Illinois, May 4, 1988
• "Ask an Attorney", Tri-District Workshop, East Alton/Wood River High School, Wood River, Illinois, February 11, 1988
• "Up With Life: The Legal issues of Life Planning", Wood River Township Hospital, Wood River, March 2, 1987
• "Ask an Attorney", Tri-District Workshop, East Alton/Wood River High School, Wood River, Illinois, February 13, 1987
• "From a Women's Point of View", Panel Chairman and Speaker Presented at Soroptomist International, Alton, Illinois, May 8, 1986
• "Establishing and Safeguarding Credit", Professional Women's Awareness Week, Southern Illinois, April 23, 1986
• "Estate Planning and Money Management", Lewis & Clark Community College, Godfrey, Illinois, October 29, 1985
• Guest Speaker, "Real Estate Sales and Purchases and Landlord-Tenant", Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey, Illinois, May 10, 1985
• "Focus on Women", Alton Business and Professional Women, Alton, Illinois, April 26, 1984
• "Focus on Women", Alton Business and Professional Women, Alton, Illinois, 1985
• "Making Your Money Work", Soroptomist International, Alton, Illinois, March 15, 1984
• "Making Your Money Work", American Association of University Women, Wood River, Illinois, January 16, 1984
• "Making Your Money Work", American Association of University Women, Wood River, Illinois, February 20, 1984
• "The Role of Educators in Contested Custody Cases", Madison County Teacher's Institute, Edwardsville, Illinois, March 25, 1983
• "Receptive and Expressive Language: Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation", Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Convention, Chicago, Illinois, April 21, 1979
• "An Art Education Curriculum for Early Childhood Education Program", Special Education Early Childhood Teachers' Meeting, East Alton, Illinois, October 30, 1978
• "Art Education for the young Learning Disabled Child", Special Arts Festival, Edwardsville, Illinois, October 27, 1978
• Principal and Teacher, Temple Israel Religious School, Godfrey, Illinois
• Guest Lecturer, "Early Childhood Education: Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation", Special Education Development Class; Instructor-Virginia Armbruster, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, July 11, 1978
• Guest Lecturer, "Language Diagnosis and Remediation" Speech Pathology 544, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois, June 21, 1978
• "A Music Education Workshop for the Non-Musician", Illinois Council for Children with Learning Disabilities; Springfield, Illinois, May 12, 1978
• "East Alton Pre-Kindergarten Screening Procedure", Illinois Speech and Hearing Association, Chicago, Illinois, April 15, 1978
• "Early Childhood Education - What is it all about?", Women's Auxiliary of St. Anthony Hospital, Alton, Illinois, April 10, 1978
• "Early Childhood Education for the Learning Disabled: Diagnosis, International Conference of the Association of Children with Learning Disabilities", March 3, 1978
• "Learning Disabilities: Definition, Characteristics, Suggestions for Parents and Teachers", Penn Junction P.T.A.: Pattonville School District, Missouri, February 21, 1978
• "East Alton Pre-Kindergarten Screening Procedure", East Alton, Illinois, 1977
• "East Alton Pre-Kindergarten Screening Procedure", Madison County Curriculum Council, Collinsville, Illinois, November 22, 1977
• Music Teacher, Temple Israel Religious School; Godfrey, Illinois, 1972 - 1984
• Guest Lecturer, Language Development Class, S.I.U.E., June 20, 1977
• Instructor, "Language Intervention: Diagnosis and Therapy", Virginia Armbruster
• "Early Childhood Education for the Learning Disabled: Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation", Illinois Council for Children with Learning Disabilities Convention; Chicago, May 5, 1997
• "Teaching Basic Concepts: A Programmed Approach", Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Convention, Chicago, Illinois, April 23, 1977
• "Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Delayed: Diagnosis, Intervention, and Evaluation", Webster College, Webster Grove, Missouri, April 2, 1977
• "Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Delayed: Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation", Madison County Teacher Institute, Edwardsville, Illinois, March 25, 1977
• "Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Delayed: Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation", Lincoln land Speech and Hearing Association Meeting, Decatur, Illinois, February 24, 1977
• "Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Delayed: Diagnosis, Intervention", Annual Conference Missouri Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, October 15, 1976
• Guest Lecturer, "Language Intervention: Diagnosis and Therapy Based on Techniques Developed by Laura L. Lee", Dept. of Speech and Language Pathology, S.I.U.E., Edwardsville, Illinois (Inst, Dr. Joyce Taylor)
• "Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Delayed: Diagnosis, Intervention, and Evaluation", Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Convention, Chicago, Illinois
• "Early Childhood Education for the Exceptional Child" Interview on WOKZ Re "Help for the Special Child Awaiting Placement in a Primary Special Education Program", District #13 Teacher Institute, East Alton, Illinois, January 31, 1976
• "Language Intervention: Diagnosis and Therapy Based on Techniques Developed by Laura Lee", Southwestern Illinois Speech and Hearing Association, Edwardsville, Illinois, January 23, 1976
• "Behavior Modification In the Classroom", District #13 Teacher In "Description of the Early Childhood Education Program", 1973
• Investigation of the Client-Directed Voice Therapy: A Case Study, ISHA Association Convention, March 25, 1972

Pro Bono Activities

• Madison County Bar Assn Pro Bono Volunteer, Certificate of Appreciation, May 1, 2007
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2006
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2005
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2004
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2003
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2002
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2001
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2001
• Alumni Interviewing, Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, 2000
• Alumni Interviewing, Washington University Admission Council, 2001
• Judge, National Mock Trial Competition, Washington University, St. Louis, July 28, 2006
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial State Championship, St. Louis, MO., March 30, 2007 - April 1, 2007
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial State Championship, Columbia, MO., March 31, 2006
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial Regional Playoffs, Clayton, MO., 2006
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial, Clayton, MO, 2006
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial Regional Playoffs, Clayton, MO., 2005
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial, Clayton, MO., 2005
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial, Clayton, MO., 2004
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial Regional Playoffs, Clayton, MO., 2003
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial, Clayton, MO., 2003
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial Regional Playoffs, Clayton, 2002
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial, Clayton, MO., 2002
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial Regional Playoffs, Clayton, MO., March 10, 2001
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial, Clayton, MO., January 27, 2001
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial, Clayton, MO, February 24, 2001
• Assistant Attorney Coach, Mary Institute St. Louis Country Day School Mock Trial Team, 1999 - 2000
• Judge, Missouri High School Mock Trial Regional Playoffs, St. Louis, MO, March 11, 2000
• Judge, National High School Mock Trial Championship, St. Louis, MO, May 7, 1999
• Judge, Mock Trial, Alton High School, Alton, IL., January 14, 1993
• Judge, Mock Trial, Alton High School, Alton, IL., May 13, 1993
• Advisory Board, Cardiac Awareness for Women, American Heart Assn., St. Louis, MO., 2001
• Director, Greater Alton Concert Association (GACA), Alton, Illinois, 1990
• Director, River Bluffs Girl Scout Council, Edwardsville, Illinois, 1990 - 1994
• Director, Gastro-lntestinal Research Foundation, University of Chicago, 1988 - 2006
• Participant, Mentor Program, Women's Law Caucus, Washington University School of Law, 1989
• Jewish Liaison, Trails West Boy Scout Council, Madison County, Illinois, 1996 - Present
• Girl Scout Leader, 1990 - 1996
• Principal Religious School, Music Teacher and Hebrew Teacher, Temple Israel, Godfrey, IL., 1975 - 1982

Past Employment Positions

• Law firm of Paul L. Pratt, P.C., East Alton, Illinois, Law Intern and Attorney, 1980 - 1983
• Federal District Court, Southern District of Illinois, Judge Hon. Beatty, Law Clerk, 1981
• Law Firm of Rosenbloom, Goldenhersh, Silverstein and Zafft, Clayton, Missouri, Law Intern, 1980
• East Alton Elem. School Dist.#13, East Alton, IL, Director Early Childhood Special Education Program, 1973 - 1979

Education

• Washington University School of Law, St Louis, Missouri, 1982
  Juris Doctor
• Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1973
  M.S.
  Major: Communication Disorders
• University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 1972
  B.S.
  Major: Speech and Hearing Science

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Accepts Credit Cards

Published Works

• "Adaptive Re-use of Public School Buildings", Journal of Law and Education, Summer, 1982
• "Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Delayed: Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation", American Planning Association Newsletter. Planning and Law Division, 1982
• Language and Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, March, 1979
• "East Alton Pre-Kindergarten Screening Procedure." Gilbert and Birmingham, Illinois Speech and Hearing Journal, October, 1977
• "Teaching Basic Concepts: A Programmed Approach", Illinois Speech and Hearing Journal, May, 1977
• "Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Delayed: Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation", Illinois Speech and Hearing Journal, February, 1977
• "Client-Directed Therapy for a Non-Organic Voice Disorder: A Case Study", Journal of Language. Speech and Hearing Services in School, January, 1973
• "Investigation of Client-Directed Voice Therapy: A Case Study", 1972

Address

2 Terminal Dr.
Suite 17B
East Alton, IL 62024-2201

Phones

618-216-6679
888-747-8524

Faxes

(618) 259-2111

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.grammerlaw.com