James T. Reilly, experienced civil and criminal litigator
EDUCATION:
Loyola School of Law; Juris Doctor 1979.
Activities: 1979 Leadership and Service Award; Speaker at commencement; President, Student Bar Association 1978-1979; Representative 1978-1979 Loyola Law School Alumni Board.
University of Illinois; Bachelor of Arts and Science 1976
Joint majors in Economics and Finance. Honors and activities: Illinois State Scholar; National Merit Commendation; Dean’s List; Sigma Iota Lambda Honorary Fraternity; Big Brother Program, Political Campaign Worker, intramural athletics.
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James T. Reilly has been practicing since 1979. He is an experienced trial lawyer with over fifty jury cases tried to verdict. He concentrates his practice in both civil and criminal litigation. Jury awards include medical malpractice, wrongful death, fraud prosecution and various types of personal injuries. He has defended cases in criminal courts ranging from fitness trials in murder cases to DUI’s. In addition to these, he has successfully defended persons charged with arson, aggravated battery, drug offenses and other felonies and misdemeanors.
Reilly has served as a LaSalle County Assistant Public Defender since 2000. He represents clients before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. He has an extensive Social Security Disability practice obtaining permanent disability awards for over 200 clients. He is also the LaSalle County Guardian Ad Litem for abused and neglected children. He represents virtually all minors charged in LaSalle County for adjudication of wardship under the Juvenile Court Act. Reilly is a graduate of Loyola School of Law in Chicago. He received his undergraduate degree with double majors in Economics and Finance from the University of Illinois.
Reilly practiced in the Chicago area in private practice and with the National District Attorney Association before moving to LaSalle County. With NDAA he served as editor in chief of its magazine, “The Prosecutor”, and project manager for Victim/Witness Assistance Project, Child Support Enforcement Project and Alternatives to Incarceration Project. He was the Association Staff Attorney.
Reilly has served the Illinois State Bar Association as a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee since 2004 and is a member of the Assembly, the governing body of the Illinois State Bar Association. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Bench and Bar Section Counci. He is past present and present treasurer of the LaSalle County Bar Association. He is active in the United Way (especially their Labor of Love repair project for the poor and elderly). He is a member of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Child Welfare Team. He is the Foundation Chairman of the Big Brother/Big Sister Program of the Mississippi Valley. He is a member of the Ottawa’s Special Events Committee; Dayton Bluffs Preserve Volunteer; Reddick Mansion Association; Ottawa Avenue Cemetery Board; and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. He and his wife, Debby, have two sons, Damian and Phillip.
Jennifer Bunker Skerston
EDUCATION:
Michigan State University; Juris Doctor 2009.
Concentration in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. Honors and activities: Graduated cum laude; Dean’s List; Full-Tuition Merit Scholarship Recipient; Jurisprudence Awards for International Environmental Law and Professional Responsibility; Journal of Animal Law Managing Editor.
DePaul University; Bachelor of Arts and Science 2006.
Major in American Literature and History; Minor in Professional Writing. Honors and activities: Graduate With Highest Honor; Dean’s List; Richard deCordova Prize for American Studies Scholars Writing Competition; Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
Jennifer Bunker Skerston is a native of Oglesby, Illinois and has practiced in both private and public sectors over the past fifteen years. Her practice focuses on family law (divorce, paternity, guardianships, and adoption), civil litigation, and estate planning/administration.
Jennifer Bunker Skerston is Secretary of the LaSalle County Bar Association and is actively involved in the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section Council. She is the Editor of the Council’s monthly publication distributed to members throughout Illinois. She also assists the Council in providing continuing legal education to attorneys, determining the need for new legislation, and reviewing and suggesting changes to current legislative proposals affecting wills, trusts and estates. She has developed and drafted will and trust-based estate plans and administered probate and trust estates. Jennifer Bunker Skerston is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Women and the Law Committee. Jennifer Bunker Skerston has taught an advanced Master of Laws (LL.M) class at The John Marshall Law School in Estate Planning and Tax Law. She has been nominated by her peers as a “Super Lawyer” in the area of Family Law every year since 2019.
Jennifer Bunker Skerston was recognized as an outstanding young professional and a member of the “Forty under 40” class for Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam counties. She also received the 2018 Streator Area Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Leader Award. These recognitions are based on nominations by her peers. She has been actively involved in the Zonta Club of the LaSalle-Peru Area and is a member of the OSF Healthcare Community Council. Jennifer Bunker Skerston and her husband Scott Skerston of Tonica, have one daughter, Lydia.
Call Law Offices of Reilly & Skerston, LLC for your legal needs. Reputation Matters.
Law Offices of Reilly & Skerston, LLC attorneys have represented clients throughout north central Illinois for more than 50 years combined. Law Offices of Reilly and Skerston, LLC is a full service general practice firm that handles Social Security disability, family, divorce, custody, criminal, DUI, traffic, personal injury, closely held businesses, local government, estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration cases.