There is no substitute for knowledge and years of experience handling cases. Find an attorney with the experience you need to defend you or your loved one.
In choosing a lawyer to handle your case, it is extremely important to look at your prosepective attorney's background, experience, and record of accomplishment. A lawyer who has never prosecuted a case will often not recognize the weaknesses of the prosecution's case or know how the police and prosecutors work. An inexperienced attorney may cost less, but will ultimately cost you much more. If you have an attorney without extensive trial and prosecutorial experience, he or she will not have the confidence and knowledge necessary to effectively defend your case.
Steve McCollum grew up in Lake County, Illinois. He is extremely familiar with all the participants in the court system in Lake County. Although Lake County is a very dynamic and growing area, it is still advantageous to have an attorney that has extensive experience in the local court system.
Steve McCollum has over 26 years of trial experience. Having been an Assistant State's Attorney for over 16 years, he has tried almost every type of criminal felony and misdemeanor, juvenile, and traffic case. He has tried many First Degree Murder cases, including death penalty cases, as well as DUI cases, Reckless Homicide cases, complicated Financial Crime cases, and other felony, juvenile and misdemeanor cases.
Starting in 1979 as an Assistant State's Attorney in Peoria County, Illinois, Steve McCollum initially tried hundreds of misdemeanor and DUI cases including Battery (including domestic Battery), Drug charges, Unlawful Use of Weapons, Theft, and other charges. Within two years he was chosen to try a First Degree Murder case with the First Assistant State's Attorney.
In 1981, Steve returned to Lake County, Illinois as an Assistant State's Attorney after having been hired by Lake County State's Attorney Fred L. Foreman (who is now a Circuit Judge in Lake County). Steve worked under Fred Foreman as a misdemeanor and felony prosecutor, was promoted to Chief of the Juvenile Trial Division, to Chief of the Misdemeanor and Traffic Division, and Chief of the Felony Review Division. In 1990 Fred Foreman was appointed as the United State's Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Then Chief Deputy Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller was chosen to be State's Attorney, and he appointed Steve McCollum as his Chief Deputy State's Attorney in charge of all criminal and juvenile prosecutions for Lake County.
During those years as a prosecutor in Peoria and Lake Counties Steve McCollum handled hundreds of cases, including jury trials of many First Degree Murder, Reckless Homicide, large Financial Theft and Embezzlement Cases, Armed Robbery, Rape and Sexual Assault, DUI, Juvenile Delinquency, and other cases. During this time he tried many of the most serious cases in the Lake County Criminal Courts while also being the supervisor of all Division Chiefs and Attorneys in the office. This experience allowed him to work with expert witnesses in the medical profession, forensic experts from the FBI, and many other experts.
In addition to his trial work and supervisory duties in the State's Attorney's Office, Steve was named to be on various Boards for agencies such as the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, the Lake County Domestic Violence Council, and other organizations.
In 1995, Steve McCollum was asked by Richard Kopsick (former President of the Lake County Bar Association) to take over his criminal practice (which was then named Staben, Kopsick & McCollum). That practice had been serving clients for many years. Since then Steve McCollum has handled First Degree Murder, Armed Robbery, Sex Offenses, Reckless Homicide, major Financial Crime, Drug cases, all types of Juvenile, DUI and other matters. He has achieved outstanding results for his clients.
If you are looking for an attorney with proven competence, experience, and expertise who has been working in the Lake County Court system for many years and has tried many cases, please call.
Steve McCollum 415 Washington Street, Suite 103 Waukegan, Illinois 60085-5564 Telephone: 847-662-2474 Fax: 847-360-9100
Steve McCollum is a well respected Lake County, Illinois criminal defense and juvenile defense lawyer, with over 25 years of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney representing both adult and juvenile clients concerning cases throughout Northeastern Illinois, including the cities of Antioch, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Gurnee, Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Villa, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Mundelein, Round Lake Area, Spring Grove, Vernon Hills, Wauconda, Waukegan, Zion, and all other areas of Lake County, Illinois in the areas of felony and misdemeanor criminal defense, DUI defense, and Juvenile law.