All Services Family Law Collaborative Divorce Parenting Coordinator Human Rights | Immigration Mediation

About Us

 

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Your Advisor and Your Advocate

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Greta Berna, JD, EA, CDF

Education and Experience

Greta’s passion for family law and human rights derives from her life experiences and work through pro bono cases. Each client deserves to have his or her legal issues handled by an attorney who can advocate and problem solve while addressing the emotions, family dynamics, and conflict which impact a matrimonial law proceeding and many human rights issues.

Accordingly, Greta keeps the client’s goal paramount while providing comprehensive and realistic legal advice. In family law, Greta will advocate the client’s goals while maintaining focus on the best interests of the children and the integrity of the family. In human rights, Greta will advocate for your individual rights and remedies that may improve your life situation.

Greta received her Juris Doctor with a Certificate in International Human Rights from The John Marshall Law School (Chicago).

Greta received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Business with accounting from Columbia College of Missouri.

  • Enrolled Agent, professional designation, and highest credentials awarded by the IRS and has more than 12 years of experience in the tax field.

  • Certified Domestic Violence Professional in Illinois

  • Collaborative Divorce Fellow with the Collaborative Divorce Illinois organization www.collaborativedivorceillinois.org.

Member associations

  • American Bar Association

  • Lake County Bar association (LCBA)

  • Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County (AWALC)

  • Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)

  • Collaborative Divorce Illinois

  • National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA)

  • National Notary Association (NNA)

Greta is licensed in Illinois.
Phone: 847-924-7918
Email: bernalaw66@gmail.com

Publication and Speaking Events:

International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC)– Greta worked with the IHRC to submit a brief for the victims of the Peru persecutions during the 1990s. Attached is a link to the brief submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR).

Lake County Bar Association Docket – Article “The Effect of the 2017 GOP Tax Reform on Maintenance in Illinois” published in The Docket June 2018 publication. Attached is a link to the June 2018 Docket

McHenry County Bar Association – Greta presented on her article “The Effect of the 2017 GOP Tax Reform on Maintenance in Illinois” and the subsequent amendments by the Illinois Legislature to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act for Section 504 (maintenance) on September 11, 2018.

Lake County Bar Association: Lawyer in the Classroom - Greta was honored to have a discussion about the U.S Constitution’s First Amendment Freedom of Speech with the Fourth grade class at Prairie Trail School. The students were very bright and participated on a discovery of how Freedom of Speech affects our every day lives and the rights we have as humans here in the states, in our home, and our schools.

Volunteer/Community/Pro Bono Work - Greta supports and believes in pro bono initiative with the understanding that the legal professions need to give back to assist the disadvantaged to help provide equal opportunities and access to justice and giving back to the community.

  • Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County (AWALC) Co - Treasurer, May 2018 – present.

  • John Marshall Law School – Greta is a volunteer with the International Human Rights Clinic.

  • Greta is a Certified Domestic Violence Professional – Greta is a volunteer with A Safe Place regarding domestic violence issues.

  • New Name Ministries - Greta is a volunteer with the ministry which helps survivors of human trafficking in the adult industry through empowerment to take back control of their lives.

  • Lake County Bar Association:

    • Co-Chair for the Solo and Small Firm Committee

    • Member – FLAG and Family Law Committee

    • Member – Community and Diversity Committee

  • Prairie State Legal Services Campaign for Legal Services Committee

Billing Philosophy 

Your initial phone consultation is FREE OF CHARGE.  If we believe we can help you, we will discuss appropriate compensation and enter into an Attorney-Client Engagement Agreement.  The engagement agreement will cover our billing practices before you sign the agreement, so you can feel comfortable with our billing. We believe you will find our billing practices progressive, and fair. The nature of your case will help us mutually determine what is the most appropriate form of compensation: an hourly fee, or a flat-rate charge.