25 active legal licenses in Sterling as of June
According to the ABA's 2025 National Lawyer Population Survey, Illinois had one of the highest concentrations of lawyers in the United States, with 61,945 resident active attorneys statewide.
That total places Illinois among a small group of states accounting for a significant share of the nation's legal workforce, reflecting its importance within the broader U.S. legal system.
As of July 2026, average lawyer salaries in Illinois ranged from $101,981 for an entry-level attorney handling routine legal work to $258,434 for highly experienced attorneys managing complex cases with significant autonomy. Mid-level attorneys, such as those in Attorney III roles—who handle highly complex legal work with moderate supervision—earned on average $191,256 in Illinois, compared to $187,635 nationwide.
Data refers to all lawyers who were actively practicing during this time period.
| Lawyer Name | Name of Firm | License Grant Date |
|---|---|---|
| Baima, Michael Joseph | 05/11/2009 | |
| Baron, Amanda J. | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 05/11/2015 |
| Bush, Trent Lyle | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 04/11/1999 |
| Buskohl, Cristina M. | Mertes & Mertes | 10/05/2018 |
| Carlock, Kyle Gregory | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 10/11/2005 |
| Cole, Matthew | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 09/11/2017 |
| Harkey, Jeffrey Nicholas | Illinois Appellate Court - Third District | 08/11/2018 |
| Heller, Michelle L. | Wipfli LLP | 06/05/2004 |
| Holldorf, Mark Lloyd | Holldorf Law Office | 16/11/1984 |
| Huffman, Daniel Alan | Law Office of Daniel A. Huffman P.C. | 04/11/1999 |
| Keegan, Mathew Michael | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 10/11/2005 |
| Klahn, Elizabeth Jacquelyn | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 08/11/2007 |
| LeSage, Robert Thomas | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 07/11/1996 |
| Mellott, Michael Allen | RRCA Accounts Management, Inc. | 05/11/1987 |
| Mertes, James William | Mertes & Mertes | 04/11/1993 |
| Mertes, Magen Joelynn | Mertes & Mertes | 04/11/2004 |
| Olson, Ryan Matthew | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 07/11/2019 |
| Osborn, Paul Alan | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 29/10/1980 |
| Reese, James Lawrence | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 29/11/1967 |
| Ripley, Marvin G. | Marvin G. Ripley, Attorney At Law | 27/10/1975 |
| Schrauth, Laura Elizabeth Sonen | Whiteside County StateÂ’s Attorney | 07/11/2019 |
| Simon, Marc Steven | Halo Branded Solutions Inc | 30/10/1973 |
| Spencer, Gary L. | Mertes & Mertes | 05/11/1979 |
| Wahl, Elizabeth J. | Wahl Clipper Corporation | 10/05/2012 |
| Zollinger, Timothy Brian | Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson | 05/11/1992 |