Attorney Profile

Former Judge and Prosecutor with 30 Years Experience, attorney Thomas J. Homer and enjoys an outstanding reputation among his clients and within the legal community. He began his legal career in 1974 as an Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County. In 1976, he was elected to the first of two terms as the Fulton County State's Attorney. Mr. Homer served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1982 to 1994. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Homer served as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, and was twice elected to serve as Presiding Justice. Since 2003, Mr. Homer has served as the ethics advisor to the Illinois General Assembly.

Mr. Homer was previously employed with Smith Barney as a financial planning specialist where he assisted clients with comprehensive financial planning services, including retirement, investment and estate planning. In addition to being a licensed attorney, Mr. Homer holds the prestigious certified financial planner designation. Mr. Homer's practice is concentrated in estate planning, financial planning services, probate and real estate law. An experienced litigator, Mr. Homer also serves as a mediator in civil litigation cases.

Areas of Practice

• Wills and Trusts
• Probate and Trust Administration
• Real Estate
• Financial Planning
• White Collar Criminal Defense
• Mediation Services
• Special Needs Trusts

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1974
• U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1974
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1974
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1974
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit

Education

• Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
  J.D.
  Honors: Magna Cum Laude
  Law Review: IIT Chicago-Kent, 1971 - 1974
  
  
• University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1970
  B.A.
  Major: Political Science
  
  

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Ethics and the Legislative Process, IICLE, 2007 - 2008
• Financial and Estate Planning, State Retirement System, 2005 - 2008

Honors and Awards

• Ethics Advisor to Illinois General Assembly, 2004 - 2008
• Certified Financial Planner, 2001 - 2008

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Illinois Retired Judges Association, 2002 - 2008
  Member
  
  
• DuPage County Bar Association, 1997 - 2003
  Member
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, Justice, 1996 - 2002
• Illinois General Assembly, State Representative, 1983 - 1995

Birth Information

• Canton, Illinois, United States of America