Skip to content

ph. 708.722.2241
txt. 708.394.7054

Call 708.722.2241 | Text 708.394.7054

Search
Close
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About the Civil Rights Group
    • Alison Leff
    • Tom Kayes
  • Cases We Take
    • Overview
    • Prisoners’ Rights
    • Police Misconduct
    • Housing Harassment
    • Other Cases
    • Referring Lawyers
  • News
  • Contact Us

Alison Leff

Attorney

  • Email

Alison Leff

Attorney

In 2005, I returned to the neighborhood where I grew up to attend the University of Chicago Law School. After graduating, I worked in commercial litigation for about 12 years, first at a big Chicago-based international law firm and then at a midsize firm, representing clients in business disputes. I enjoyed my colleagues and client relationships, but I felt the greatest satisfaction and drive while working on my pro bono cases, which ranged from criminal appeals to prisoner lawsuits to immigration hearings. As I advanced at my firm, the need to shift my practice to civil rights came into focus. 

In March 2017, I left my job as a litigation partner to become pro bono counsel at the law firm where I started my career. As pro bono counsel, I worked with teams to represent prisoners and arrestees whose constitutional rights were violated during imprisonment or arrest. Devoting my work full-time to issues that touch on social justice and equity was incredibly gratifying.

The following year, I joined Loevy & Loevy, where I had the privilege to practice with exceptionally talented and passionate civil rights lawyers. There, my work focused on civil cases arising from wrongful arrests and convictions.

I joined Tom in founding Civil Rights Group to build on my career serving clients whose fundamental rights and liberties are at stake, but who cannot protect themselves without lawyers. I find this work both challenging and rewarding, particularly because it’s often an uphill battle to convince our opponents, judges, and jurors to see the firm’s clients as we do: individuals deserving of respect and humanity, whose rights were violated. Succeeding in that challenge has brought me the greatest professional satisfaction in my career. 

In addition to civil rights, I am passionate about civil legal aid. I served on the Ambassadors Board of Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF) from 2009 to 2019, including as co-chair of the board’s executive committee for the 2016-2017 term. In 2020, I was elected to Legal Aid’s governing board. 

Contact US

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

University of Chicago Law School
  • J.D. (with honors)
University of Pennsylvania
  • B.A. (cum laude)

Past Employment

  • Associate, Loevy & Loevy
  • Pro Bono Counsel, Sidley Austin LLP
  • Partner, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
  • Associate, Sidley Austin LLP
Alison Leff
Rated by Super Lawyers


loading ...
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Get In Touch
  • Mailing Address: 2045 West Grand Avenue, Suite B, PMB 62448, Chicago, Illinois 60612
  • Phone: 708-722-2241
  • Text: 708-394-7054
  • Email: hello@civilrightsgroup.com
News

Wisconsin prison suicide was preventable, family says

Read More »

Family of man killed in police shooting now suing City of Waukesha

Read More »
Cases We Take
  • Prisoners’ Rights
  • Police Misconduct
  • Housing Harassment
  • Other Cases
  • Referring Lawyers
Menu
  • Prisoners’ Rights
  • Police Misconduct
  • Housing Harassment
  • Other Cases
  • Referring Lawyers

Terms  •  Privacy Policy  •  Sitemap

© 2023 The Civil Rights Group, LLC

Designed & Maintained by LDS

Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About the Civil Rights Group
    • Alison Leff
    • Tom Kayes
  • Cases We Take
    • Overview
    • Prisoners’ Rights
    • Police Misconduct
    • Housing Harassment
    • Other Cases
    • Referring Lawyers
  • News
  • Contact Us