Vincent C. Ruggiero is and has been licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois since 1984. He has practiced continually since his admission to the bar and devotes his full time to family law. He has provided legal assistance to many hundreds of divorce clients. His former experience in business (Bank Vice President, Real Estate Broker, Teacher), his litigation training at the highest level (Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, a nationally known and highly respected law firm with over 150 lawyers), and his personal life experiences uniquely qualify him in any case ranging from the most difficult custody or financial dispute to the simplest case in which the parties agree on every issue.

While many cases require litigation for resolution, often settlement can be achieved using novel approaches. For example, as a Fellow of the Illinois Institute of Collaborative Law, Mr. Ruggiero is on the cutting edge of this new approach to resolving divorce cases. Collaborative law is an emerging and cost-effective alternative to amicably settle a divorce case, and Mr. Ruggiero is one of relatively few attorneys in Illinois with a practice in this unique area of family law, explained more fully under the FAQ section of this website.

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Mr. Ruggiero is also a Certified Divorce Mediator, a registered Certified Public Accountant, and a member of the DuPage County Bar Association Family Law Subcommittee.

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Areas of Practice:

• Divorce, Contested Custody, Alimony/Spousal Support, Trial Litigation, Business Valuations, Appeals and Prenuptial Agreements.

Certifications/Specialties:

• Certified Divorce Mediator, DuPage County Bar Association

• Certified Public Accountant, University of Illinois, 1981

Bar Admissions:

• Illinois, 1984

Education:

Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois.

• Juris Doctor with Honors, June 1984

• American Jurisprudence Award, Advanced Civil Procedure

• William Friedman Memorial Scholarship Award

• Justinian Society of Lawyers Award

• Merit Scholarship Award

• Deans List

University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois.

• Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, May 1981

• Certified Public Accountant

• Illinois General Assembly, Full-Tuition Scholarship

• Order of the Sons of Italy, Scholarship Award

• Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Scholarship Award

Published Works:

• Child Support and Business Expenses: Revising Section 505, DuPage County Bar Association Bar Brief

Classes and Seminars Taught:

• Divorce Law Lecturer, DuPage County Bar Association Mega-Seminar

• Real Estate Law Instructor, College of DuPage

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Certified Divorce Mediator

• Illinois Institute of Collaborative Law, Fellow

• Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker

• DuPage County Bar Association Family Law Subcommittee

Past Employment Positions:

• NLSB (Legal Advisor, Vice President of Commercial Loans, Trust Officer, and Compliance Officer) 1989 - 1994

• Taslitz, Smith & Hemmesch, 1988 - 1989

• Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, 1984 - 1988

• Goldberg & Geiser, (Income Tax Preparer) 1984

• Chicago Transit Authority (Paralegal, Law Department Litigation) 1982 - 1983

Jillian has been an Associate Attorney at Ruggiero and Associates since 2017, after her tenure at the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office where she was a Prosecutor from 2012-2017 and handled a multitude of cases including misdemeanors, orders of protection, felonies, and juvenile matters.  She attended John Marshall Law School, where she graduated with honors and was an active member of the Trial Advocacy Honors Board and Alternative Dispute Resolution.   Her previous experience includes externing for the late Honorable John W. Darrah of the United State’s District Court and Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, among a variety of other past legal experience.    

Jillian is a current appointee of the Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit as the Guardian ad Litem for Juvenile Court (focusing on children victims of Abuse and Neglect) and focuses her practice in Family Law, Real Estate, and Criminal Defense.  Recognized by the Illinois State Board of Examiners for her skills, she also annually grades the Illinois Bar Examination.      

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and young son, running, traveling, and enjoying new food experiences.

She was excited to return to Ruggiero and Associates as an Associate Attorney with her Father, Vincent Ruggiero, and is passionate in helping you through this difficult and overwhelming season of your life. 

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Areas of Practice:

• Divorce, Contested Custody, Maintenance/Spousal Support, Trial Litigation, Criminal Defense, Real Estate

Certifications/Specialties:

• Guardian ad Litem

Bar Admissions:

• Illinois, 2012

Education:

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John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois.

• Juris Doctor with Honors, June 2012

• CALI Award recipient, Civil Procedure

• CALI Award recipient, Income Taxation

• Dean’s List

• Trial Advocacy Honor’s Board

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Team

• Justinian Society Scholarship Award

• BarBri Head Representative

North Central College, Naperville, Illinois.

• Bachelor of Arts, Business Management and Spanish, May 2012 (Magna Cum Laude)

• Minor, Conflict Resolution, May 2012

• Dean’s List

• College Scholar

• Rotary Scholar

• Co-Editor of Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter

• Women’s Varsity Soccer

• American Legion School Award

• Dispute Resolution Educational Program Coordinator

• Judicial Hearing Review Panelist

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• DuPage County Bar Association

• Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association

Past Employment Positions:

• 18th Judicial Circuit Court Guardian ad Litem (Juvenile, 2017-current)

• Illinois State Board of Examiners (2017-current)

• DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office (Felony Prosecutor, 2012-2017)

• United State’s District Court (Judicial Extern, 2012)

• Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (Intern, 2011-2012)

• Pokorny and Associates (Estate Planning Intern, 2013)

• DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office (Intern 2008, 2010, 2011))

• Ruggiero & Associates (Secretary 2005-2009)

Julie joined the Ruggiero and Associates team in November, 2016, but has been working in the legal field for the past 15 years. Julie is a life-long resident of Illinois and is a mother of 7, but that did not stop her from gaining vast paralegal experience in dealing with family law!