John H. Simpson Vice Chairperson, Chicago | linkedin.com/in/john-simpson
John H. Simpson Vice Chairperson, Chicago | linkedin.com/in/john-simpson
In total, there were 25 active legal licenses recorded in cities within Jackson County in the second quarter of 2025, compared to 26 in the previous quarter.
The largest number of licenses were granted in Murphysboro (23).
According to the ABA’s 2024 Profile of the Legal Profession, Illinois had the fourth-highest number of lawyers per capita in the United States, with nearly five lawyers per 1,000 residents.
As of March 2025, average lawyer salaries in Illinois ranged from $107,027 for an entry-level attorney handling routine legal work to $224,163 for highly experienced attorneys managing complex cases with significant autonomy. Mid-level attorneys, such as those in Attorney III roles—who handle highly complex legal work with moderate supervision—earned on average $178,994 in Illinois, compared to $174,969 nationwide.
Data refers to all lawyers who were actively practicing during this period.
| Lawyer Name | Date of Admission |
|---|---|
| Aaron Thomas Wise | 05/09/2013 |
| Andrew Wilson Suthard | 05/07/2009 |
| Arryn A. Carson | 11/06/2014 |
| Benjamin William Reed | 11/01/2012 |
| Carol McCann Samarah | 05/01/2014 |
| Courtney Elizabeth Jakobsen | 10/31/2013 |
| Dana Sue Frazier | 11/06/1997 |
| Diane Marie Speir | 11/05/1992 |
| Donna White McCann | 05/10/2001 |
| Edward J. Heller | 11/05/1979 |
| Gerald Scott Reed | 11/01/1977 |
| Guice George Strong III | 11/23/1976 |
| Jill Elaine Adams | 05/08/1986 |
| Joseph Alan Cervantez | 05/01/2014 |
| Julian Manuel Valdes | 03/25/2021 |
| Mary Christine Heins | 05/04/1993 |
| Michael Louis Wepsiec | 11/05/1981 |
| Peggy Lynn Reiman | 11/04/1999 |
| Penelope S. Smith | 11/07/1985 |
| Penny J. Pierson | 11/07/1996 |
| Raymond Neil Holley | 11/06/1997 |
| Rex Gordon Burke | 11/13/1975 |
| Richard L. Blake | 11/05/1992 |
| Thomas W. Mansfield | 11/03/1978 |
| Thomas William Moyer | 11/04/1993 |
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