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John R. Russell

John R. Russell concentrates his practice in the areas of Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate, Management-Side Labor & Employment,  Corporate Law with Business Start-up & Compliance, and Charitable/Not-for-profit Entities.

He is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, where he is a member of each state’s bar association. He has been a member of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), the Christian Legal Society (CLS), and the Association of Corporate Counsel. He has served as a licensed Real Estate Broker in Michigan, was certified as an Arbitrator/Mediator by the AHLA, and is an Illinois Notary Public. He has published articles in the John Marshall Law Review, the Illinois Bar Journal, and the Illinois Public Employee Relations Report, and has also been interviewed as a resource in Illinois Bar Journal articles regarding Health Care Law, Estate Planning, Real Estate, Notaries, and establishing a solo practice after working in the corporate sector.

He is a former professional musician and music teacher, graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s of Music Education. He graduated with honors from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, where he also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.

This year, John is celebrating his 35th year as a practicing attorney.  His experiences include a judicial clerkship for the Illinois Supreme Court, associate positions at Chicago area law firms, and 14 years as General Counsel for a large, faith-based, not for profit organization which provided health care and housing services for senior citizens. He also serves as an Adjudicative Hearing Officer for several municipalities in the southern suburbs of Chicago.

He is active in his community, serving as a Trustee for the Village of South Holland, where he chairs the Finance Committee. His past municipal service  include his roles as President of both the Planning and Development Commission and Chairman of the Public Library Board in South Holland, Illinois. He also serves as a school board trustee for Calvary Academy in South Holland (a faith based private school),  serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Thornton Township High School District 205 Academic Enrichment Foundation, and is active in both the Homewood Area Chamber of Commerce and the South Holland Business Association.  He also serves as an Elder at his church, Spirit of God Fellowship, in South Holland, Illinois, where he also participates in the teaching ministry.

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

  • Indiana

  • Michigan

Education

  • John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois

    • J.D. (Juris Doctor)

  • Illinois Wesleyan University

    • Bachelor’s of Music Education

Publications

  • Tom Bradley, Mark Bennett, & John R. Russell, Interest Arbitration During Economic and Social Crisis, 38 IL. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RELATIONS REPORT 2 (2021).

  • Taking Your Powers of Attorney to the Bank, 107 IL. BAR JOURNAL 18 (June 2019).

  • The Constitutionality of Attorney Fee Forfeiture Under RICO and CCE, 22 J. MARSHALL L. REV. 155 (1988).

  • Edwards v. Aguillard: The Lemon Test Yields Bitter Fruit for Traditional Religious Values, 21 J. MARSHALL L. REV. 613 (1987).

  • INTERVIEWS (John was interviewed as part of the following articles published in the Illinois Bar Journal):

    • So You Want to be a Business Lawyer?, 98 IL. BAR JOURNAL 20 (January 2010).

    • Help Your Client Choose the Right Advance Directive, 93 IL BAR JOURNAL 284 (June 2005).

    • HIPAA and POAs Revisited, 93 IL BAR JOURNAL 110 (March 2005).

    • Attorney-Approval Clauses and Residential Real Estate Contracts: Mere Modification or More?, 93 IL BAR JOURNAL 72 (February 2005).

    • What Limits on Lawyer–Notaries?, 92 IL BAR JOURNAL 562 (November 2004).

    • Are Statutory Health Care POAs HIPAA-Compliant?, 92 IL BAR JOURNAL 302 (June 2004).

Educational Seminars

Mr. Russell has been an educator in a variety of areas, and has regularly made presentations to companies, civic groups, churches, and other organizations in areas such as:

  • Estate planning

  • Real estate

  • Legal news and legal history relating to current events

  • Legal issues churches face

  • Management training regarding employment law

He would be happy to design a presentation for your company, school, church, or group.