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

ISBA Young Lawyer of the Year, 2016

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.

Leading Lawyer, 2023, 2024, 2025
The distinction of being a Leading Lawyer has been earned by fewer than 5% of all lawyers licensed to practice law in Illinois.

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.

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.

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).

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Top Women Lawyers & Legislators in Leadership Awards, 2023
Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Flexible Workplace Award

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. High Honors.

TRAININGS
Approved as a Child Representative & Guardian ad Litem in Cook County, 2019 - Present.

40-hour Mediation Training & Domestic Relations Court-Certified Mediator, 2015 - Present.

Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, Collaborative Divorce 2-Day Basic Training, 2008.

 

bar associations

Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 2008 - Present.

Young Lawyer’s Division, 2008-2018.
Grant Committee 2008-Present, Soiree Committee 2012, Holiday Party Committee 2011-2012, Social Co-Chair 2012-2015, Networking Wine Event Chair 2016-2018.

Women and the Law Committee, 2013 - Present.
Co-Chair of Social & Gifts Committee and Outreach Committee 2014-Present. International Women’s Day High Tea Chair 2016-Present, Leadership Committee, 2021-2023. Chair 2022-2024.

Child Law, 2021-2024

Family Law, 2024-Present.

Assembly, 2013-2017.

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), 2019 – Present. Board of Directors member 2021-2024.
Decalogue Society, 2020 - Present.
Events Committee. Executive board member - Financial Secretary, 2023-Present.

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

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

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

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

 

Community Involvement

Blaine Kindergarten Fund, 2019-2020 & 2021-2022 Academic years.  President.

Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, 2014–2015, 2019. Child Representative in Domestic Relations and Parentage Division. 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 in the case, 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 – Present.

Jewish Council for Youth Services, Parent Committee, 2016–2019.

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.  The Junior Board participates in monthly events with the clients (children), such as whirleyball, visiting the Green City Market, and participating in Family Days on the campus.  The Junior Board plans various fundraisers, notably, the annual Triple Crown event, to fund the monthly activities.

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

Professional Women's Club of Chicago, 2019.

Temple Sholom, Mishbaha Committee member.

 

articles

Relocation to Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Column, April, 2020.

Women and the Law Celebrates International Women’s Day to Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Column, May 2020. 

When “the End” is Not the End: Covid Edition to Illinois State Bar Association, February, 2022.

Parenting Coordinators: Coordinating Parents Through the Day-to-Day Life to Illinois State Bar Association, September, 2024.

 

speaking engagements

PRESENTATIONS

Parenting Coordination Basics to Lady Lawyers who Lunch, September 14, 2020. 

What to know about family law to the Saper Immersion Program, August 2, 2022.

Parenting Coordinators to Chicago Bar Association, November 13, 2022.

Sexual Abuse Investigations to Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, August 7, 2024 (Moderator).

Parenting Coordinator Decisions, Order Interpretation & Requests to Lake County Bar Association, October 22, 2024. 

Pitfalls and Precautions to Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, March 10, 2025 (Moderator).

Personality Disorders Seminar to Decalogue Society, May 15, 2025 (Moderator).

 

contact

EMAIL
erin@ewilsonfamilylaw.com

PHONE
312-767-4220