Erin M. Wilson

managing attorney

Erin M. Wilson founded the firm in 2019, after practicing for 10 years at a preeminent family law firm where she was a partner. Erin focuses exclusively on family law cases, which include divorce, custody/parenting issues (now known as allocation of decision-making and parenting time), child support and maintenance, domestic violence and prenuptial agreements. Known as a trusted advisor and skilled advocate, Erin prides herself on successfully tackling tough parenting disputes and complex financial cases.

In addition, Erin is frequently appointed as a Guardian ad Litem or Child Representative. Erin takes these cases very seriously, in meeting with the children and investigating the families, as she advocates for the children’s best interests, while also attempting to help the parents in a child-centric, less conflictual approach. In an effort to keep parties out of court post-judgment, Erin offers Parenting Coordination services to facilitate communication and resolve conflict, all while being mindful of emotions, the history that leads to where the family is, and with a goal to reframe the lens with which parents view each other to benefit their ability to coparent.

Erin is trained in mediation and collaborative law. She counsels clients through the mediation process and is appointed to act as a mediator, allowing clients to make informed decisions while maintaining control of the outcome.  

While she believes in and strives toward an amicable and fair settlement out-of-court, Erin has extensive trial experience with a reputation for being kind when appropriate, and aggressive when necessary. She makes every effort to achieve an amicable and fair settlement out-of-court through creative approaches and skillful advocacy.

Clients of diverse backgrounds, from teachers and police officers to corporate executives and stay-at-home parents, rely upon Erin and her team to advocate for their interests. Erin’s experience enables her to brainstorm, negotiate, persuade, and facilitate solutions in her client’s best interests. With a hands-on approach and a no-nonsense demeanor, Erin gives honest, personalized advice, sets reasonable expectations, and provides successful solutions to your goals.

In addition to her work advocating for her clients, Erin is an active member of the legal community. Erin presently sits on the boards of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and Decalogue Society.  Erin is further an active member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and Illinois State Bar Association. Erin is a founding member of the Illinois Association of Independent Attorneys, the Force of Lawyers Against Sexual Harassment (FLASH), and the Lady Lawyers who Lunch (LLL). Erin has been involved in various other boards in her legal career as well.  

Erin has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including being named a Rising Star, Emerging Leader by Leading Lawyers, and Illinois Super Lawyers for multiple years. Erin received the ISBA Young Lawyer of the Year in 2016, Decalogue Society’s Intra Society Award in 2023, and the WBAI Top Women in Leadership Flexible Employer Award in 2023. 

Erin is married to a divorce attorney, and they have two children, Ava and Brecken.  Erin is also involved in her children’s public school and Temple Sholom.

LICENSES

Illinois Bar, Admitted November 2008

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Illinois Super Lawyers, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Recognition by Illinois Super Lawyers, a designation limited to the top 5% of attorneys in Illinois who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement

Illinois Rising Stars, 2012, 2013, 2017
Recognition by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, a designation limited to less than 2.5% of lawyers under 40 years of age in Illinois.

Emerging Leader by Leading Lawyers, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
Recognition in the Emerging Lawyers Magazine, a Law Bulletin Publishing Company, of the top up-and-coming attorneys in Illinois who are 40 years old or younger or who have been practicing for 10 or fewer years. Emerging Lawyer has been earned by fewer than 2% of all lawyers licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Decalogue Society Intra-Society Award, 2023
The Intra Society Award is presented to members of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers who have devoted significant time and energy to augment various functions of the Society, who promote Decalogue’s good reputation in the legal community and elsewhere, and who, through their actions, exemplify the Jewish ideals of tzedek (justice), limud (learning), and kavod (respect).

WBAI Top Women Lawyers & Legislators in Leadership Awards, 2023
Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Flexible Workplace Award

ISBA Young Lawyer of the Year, 2016

EDUCATION

DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, IL
Juris Doctor, May 2008. Certificate in Family Law.

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies, May 2005.

TRAININGS

40-hour Mediation Training & Domestic Relations Court-Certified Mediator

Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois

 

bar associations

Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 2008 - Present.

Women and the Law Committee, 2013 - Present.
Social & Gifts Committee and Outreach Committee. International Women’s Day High Tea Chair. Leadership Committee, 2021-2024. Chair 2022-2024.

Child Law, 2021-2024

Young Lawyer’s Division, 2008-2018.
Grant Committee, Soiree Committee, Holiday Party Committee, Social Co-Chair, Networking Wine Event Chair.

Assembly, 2013-2017.

Decalogue Society, 2020 - Present.
Events Committee. Executive board member - Financial Secretary, 2023-Present.

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Member, 2018 - Present.

Lady Lawyers Who Lunch, Founding Member, 2019 - Present.

Force of Lawyers Against Sexual Harassment (FLASH), Founding Member, 2021 - Present.

 

Community Involvement

Professional Women's Club of Chicago, 2019.

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), 2019 – Present. Board of Directors member 2021-2024.

Blaine K-Fund, 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 Academic years.  Committee has the fundraising goal of covering the salaries of two full-time certified teaching assistants to support small and whole group instruction and enrichment in the kindergarten classes.

Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, 2014–2015, Child Representative in Domestic Relations and Parentage Division.  The pilot program appoints child representatives on a pro bono basis in cases where both parties are pro se, to assist the Court in investigating the issues presented and to make efforts to settle the case.

DePaul University College of Law Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center, Board of Directors, 2011–2015, 2020 – 2024. The Family Law Center focuses on teaching, research, law reform and community service in all areas of child and family law.

Illinois Association of Independent Attorneys, 2010 – Present. Founding member.

Jewish Council for Youth Services, Parent Committee, 2016–2020.

Lawrence Hall Youth Services, Junior Board Member, 2008–2013.  Co-president 2012. Lawrence Hall is a therapeutic treatment facility for children who are placed by the Department of Children and Family Services.  

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services, Associate Board, 2011–2013 (one of the founding members).  Started Simple Divorce Mentoring Program, which allows for non-family law attorneys to handle “simple divorces,”  while being mentored by family law attorneys, minimizing the time from the LAS staff, who are busy serving underprivileged clients in more complex cases.

Neighborhood Parents Network, 2013–Present. Co-Chair of Book Club, 2015–2017. Business Member 2019-Present.

 

contact

EMAIL
erin@ewilsonfamilylaw.com

PHONE
312-767-4220