Employment Inflation Alleged In Illinois

The Illinois Administrator has filed a complaint alleging that an attorney falsified information in her employment search after her 2015 bar admission

Between June 2012 and June 2014, Respondent was not employed. Between June 2014 and March 2016, Respondent managed a rental house owned by her parents and a house owned by her aunt, but received no salary for the work. On occasion, Respondent was paid by her aunt for specific work on the aunt’s property such as painting, but she was otherwise unemployed.

On March 1, 2016, Respondent submitted an employment application to the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) for the position of Realty Specialist II in Carbondale, Illinois.

 On the employment application, Respondent represented that between May 2012 and March 2016, she was employed as a “self-employed attorney” working 40 hours per week.

 At no time between May 2012 and March 2016 did Respondent practice law for 40 hours per week.

She also allegedly misrepresented the nature of her work.

And

On April 2, 2016, Respondent submitted a second employment application to IDOT for the position of Realty Specialist III in Dixon, Illinois.

On the application, Respondent represented that between May 2012 and April 2016, she was employed as a “self-employed attorney” working 20 hours per week.

At no time between May 2012 and April 2016, did Respondent practice law for 20 hours per week.

Respondent’s representations that she was self-employed as an attorney between May 2012 and April 2016, and that she worked 20 hours per week as an attorney, were false because she was not authorized to practice law until May 7, 2015, she did not register with ARDC until October 17, 2016, and she did not work 20 hours per week as an attorney between May 2012 and April 2016.

The complaint alleges false resumes and statements to a potential employer. (Mike Frisch)