Steven P. McCollum has previous experience as:
Steven
P. McCollum is currently:
- First Vice President of the Lake
County Bar Association
- Member - Lake County Bar Association Long Range
Planning Committee
- Member - Lake County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee
- Member - Illinois State Bar Association
- Member
- Jefferson Inns of Court
The primary focus of Steve McCollum's law practice
is on the criminal defense of Felony, Misdemeanor, Juvenile, DUI, and related matters. If you or someone you care about has
a Criminal, Juvenile, DUI, or other case, it can be difficult to choose between the many attorneys that claim to have the
competence and expertise necessary to successfully defend the case. It is vital that you look at the background and experience
of the lawyer you are considering hiring. There is no worse feeling than the realization in the middle of your case that your
lawyer didn't have the experience necessary to competently defend you.
Steve
McCollum has been an attorney since 1978 and has practiced law as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney in Waukegan, Illinois,
the county seat of Lake County, Illinois. Steve was the Chief Deputy State's Attorney for the Lake County State's Attorney's
Office in Waukegan, Illinois. In that capacity he was in charge of all criminal prosecutors and prosecutions in Lake County,
while also handling many of the most serious cases. He tried many cases, including trials of persons charged with First Degree
Murder (including Death Penalty cases), Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, Reckless Homicide, Drug Delivery and Possession
Cases, and Financial Crime cases.
Other positions held by Steve McCollum in the
Lake County State's Attorney's Office included being the Chief of the Felony Review Division, Chief of the Misdemeanor and
Traffic Division, and Chief of the Juvenile Trial Division. In those positions Steve handled Grand Jury matters, Reckless
Homicide and serious accident cases, DUI and related charges, and all types of juvenile delinquency, neglect and abuse cases.
After being a prosecutor in the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office
for 16 years, including 12 years as a supervisor, Steve became a criminal defense lawyer. As a criminal defense lawyer for
the past 16 years, he has handled all types of serious criminal Felony cases, Misdemeanor cases, Driving Under the Influence
of Alcohol (DUI) and Reckless Homicide cases, and Traffic matters. He has also handled the appeals of indicated findings of
abuse or neglect made by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
As a criminal defense lawyer Steve has successfully defended people charged with First Degree Murder, Aggravated
Criminal Sexual Assault and Abuse, Reckless Homicide, Child Pornography, large-scale white collar financial crimes (embezzlement
and other financial fraud cases), drug charges (methamphetamine, cocaine, and other controlled substance delivery and possessio
and cannabis / marijuana cases), Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) and Aggravated DUI, Domestic Battery, Violation
of Order of Protection, Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, Robbery and many other types of cases.
Steve is the past Chairman of the Criminal Trials and Appeals Committee of the Lake County Bar Association.
He is currently the First Vice President of the Bar Association and a member of the Board of Director's Executive
Committee. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. Steve was appointed by the Illinois Supreme
Court three times as a member of the 19th Judicial Circuit (Lake and McHenry Counties) Death Penalty Attorney Qualification
Screening Committee. This committee determined which Lake and McHenry County attorneys met the qualifications necessary to
defend death penalty cases.
Steve was also appointed by the Illinois Supreme
Court to serve on a committee of lawyers and Judges from throughout the State of Illinois to write new Rules of the Supreme
Court concerning local ordinance violation prosecutions.
Steve was
a founding member of the Lake County Domestic Violence Council which set up procedures for Lake County police departments,
prosecutors and the courts for domestic battery and order of protection cases. He was a member of the Lake County Major Crimes
Task Force which investigated homicide and other serious felony cases throughout Lake County. He has been a speaker at several
seminars concerning Criminal Law, Juvenile Law, Domestic Violence, Order of Protection, and family law issues on behalf of
the Lake County Bar Association.
It is important to know that Steve McCollum's
experience translates into results for his clients. He has repeatedly convinced Judges to suppress evidence resulting in his
client's criminal charges being dismissed. His past experience working with prosecutors and police has enabled him to convince
prosecutors to dismiss cases against his clients. His experience in using and cross-examining expert and other professional
witnesses, such as police officers, doctors, and laboratory personnel, has resulted in repeated findings of "not guilty"
in trials in the Lake County court system. Even in cases where there has been substantial evidence against his clients, Steve
has convinced prosecutors to reduce charges so that the result was a disposition of the case that didn't affect his clients'
lives on a long-term basis.
All clients of the Law Offices of Steven P. McCollum,
P.C. are treated in a courteous, professional manner. We truly care about what happens to our clients and do our best to help
them solve their problems. To do that, Steve McCollum and his staff use a combination of experience, training, and compassion.
In addition to criminal and juvenile matters, attorneys affiliated with the Law
Offices of Steven P. McCollum, P.C. also handle civil litigation, including personal injury, divorce, and other legal matters.
If you have any type of legal matter, I urge you to call for an appointment. There is no charge for the initial consultation.
If we are unable to handle your case, we will refer you to an attorney who has the experience and expertise necessary for
your needs.
