Steven Skinner, Criminal Defense Attorney in Bridgeview, IL
I'm a Bridgeview, Illinois attorney with more than 20 years of experience in criminal defense, personal injury, real estate, and entertainment law. Before I built this practice, I spent years as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, prosecuting DUI cases, domestic battery charges, weapons offenses, and felony matters in the same courtrooms where I now represent defendants. That experience tells me exactly how the prosecution approaches a case, and where the arguments that change its outcome are most likely to live.
Education, Training,
and Early Career
I'm a Chicago native, a graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, and a lifelong product of this community. I earned my undergraduate degree in Political Science, with a minor in English Literature, from Southern Illinois University before enrolling at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
At Loyola, I had the opportunity to study abroad in 1999, gaining direct exposure to legal systems in France, England, and Belgium. In 2000, I built a strong foundational background in both state and federal courts. I clerked at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, participating in felony preliminary hearings and drug court trials, while concurrently serving as a judicial extern for the late Magistrate Judge Martin C. Ashman at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
I received my J.D. in 2001 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that same year.
Before law school, I was active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Beta Eta Chapter. In 2024, I was inducted into the chapter's Hall of Fame.
My credentials:
- J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2001
- B.A., Political Science, Southern Illinois University; English Literature minor
- Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago
- Study abroad, 1999 — legal systems in France, England, and Belgium
- Law clerk, Cook County State's Attorney's Office, 2000
- Extern, Magistrate Judge Martin Ashman, 2000
- Anthony Teresi Award for Excellence, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2001
- Named Young Attorney of the Year, Loyola Law School Alumni Association, 2005
- Coached Loyola Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial team to consecutive National Runner-Up finishes, 2004 and 2005
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Beta Eta Chapter Hall of Fame Inductee, 2024
- 4.9-star Google Business Profile (130+ reviews)
- 5.0 Avvo rating (10+ reviews)
I Prosecuted These Cases. Now I Defend Against Them.
After law school, I joined the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as an Assistant State's Attorney. I prosecuted DUI cases, domestic battery charges, misdemeanor matters, and felony cases — the same charge categories I now defend in the same court system. I worked alongside the investigators, sat at the prosecution table, and learned firsthand how the State's Attorney's Office evaluates evidence, builds its theory of a case, and decides where to push.
That background matters in a way that courtroom experience alone doesn't replicate. When I take a criminal defense case in Cook County, I'm not guessing at what the prosecution is thinking. I've been that side of the table. I know what they prioritize, what they consider a weak case, and where a defense has the clearest path forward.
Solo Practice: The Attorney You Call Is the Attorney on Your Case
I run a solo practice because I believe clients deserve to work directly with the attorney they hired, not a junior associate they've never met. Unless a genuine emergency requires otherwise, I handle every client matter personally from the first consultation through the final resolution. Every phone call, every filing, every court appearance is mine.
Paralegal support assists on real estate and entertainment law matters. But on criminal defense and personal injury cases, you work with me directly throughout.
If you need to reach me after hours or on a weekend, you can. For criminal defense matters, I'm available by phone or text at virtually any hour.
Entertainment Law: Negotiating Polo G's First Major Label Deal
My practice reaches further than criminal defense and personal injury. In entertainment law, I negotiated Polo G's first recording contract with Sony, a deal valued at over one million dollars. Polo G is a Chicago-native rapper who went on to release multiple platinum-certified projects. A double platinum Grammy award from one of those certifications is on the wall in my office.
A music contract negotiation and a DUI defense are different matters. But both require the same foundation: knowing the system you're working within, and understanding how to get your client the result they need.
What Bridgeview Clients Say About Working With Me
What Clients Ask Before the First Call
Who is Steven Skinner and what type of law does he practice?
I'm a Bridgeview, Illinois attorney with more than 20 years of experience in criminal defense, personal injury, real estate, and entertainment law. My office is at 7548 West 103rd St in Bridgeview, and I represent clients throughout Cook County and the south and southwest suburbs.
Did Steven Skinner work as a prosecutor before becoming a defense attorney?
Yes. I served as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, where I prosecuted DUI cases, domestic battery charges, misdemeanor matters, and felony cases. The courtrooms and charge types I prosecuted are the same ones I work in now as a defense attorney.
How long has Steven Skinner been practicing law in Cook County?
I've been practicing for more than 20 years, since earning my J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2001. My practice has been rooted in Cook County and the south and southwest suburbs throughout.
Does Steven Skinner handle cases personally, or are clients passed to associates?
I handle every case personally. I run a solo practice — there are no associate handoffs. The attorney you speak with at your consultation is the attorney who appears in court on your behalf. Paralegal support assists with real estate and entertainment law matters, but all client-facing work is mine.
Steven Skinner is a Bridgeview, Illinois attorney with more than 20 years of experience in criminal defense, personal injury, real estate, and entertainment law. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a former Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, he was named Young Attorney of the Year by the Loyola Law School Alumni Association. He represents clients throughout Cook County from his office at 7548 West 103rd St, Bridgeview, IL 60455. Learn more about his criminal defense and personal injury practice areas.
Free Consultation, No Time Limit
If you're researching your options or ready to talk through your situation, call or text me directly. Every consultation is free and has no time limit, for every practice area I handle.
