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Overview

Mary is a skilled education attorney with significant experience representing educational institutions in complex litigation and sensitive campus matters. Her practice centers on student, faculty, and staff issues, where she brings strategic insight to every case.

Mary advises public and private colleges, universities, academic medical centers, and K–12 schools on a wide range of issues, including student conduct, employment matters, student and staff accommodations, accreditation matters, and compliance with civil rights laws. She regularly defends institutions in state and federal court as well as in administrative proceedings and conducts internal investigations with a focus on fairness, compliance, and mission alignment. Mary has significant experience with litigation and regulatory compliance under Titles VI and IX of the Higher Education Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and other federal laws. She also routinely defends claims under the U.S. Constitution, particularly with respect to free speech, religious freedom, equal protection, and due process issues, as well as claims arising under state law. She enjoys challenging legal questions and is a passionate and committed advocate for clients.

Before entering the legal field, Mary earned a master’s degree in elementary and special education and taught elementary school. Her classroom experience continues to inform her legal work, grounding her advocacy in a commitment to educational equity and institutional integrity. Mary’s goal is to help clients navigate legal complexities in order to further their educational missions.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
    • Education Law, 2026
  • Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, High Honors, 2020

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
    • cum laude
    • Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy, Executive Editor
    • Juvenile Justice Clinic
  • M.Ed., Lesley University
    • Elementary Education (1-6)
    • Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8)
  • B.A., University of Notre Dame

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • District of Columbia
  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Illinois Council of School Attorneys
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
  • National Council of School Attorneys
2024 Pro Bono Contributor
Outside the Office

Mary enjoys visiting new countries and experiencing different cultures around the world. She chooses a diving-friendly vacation every other year—Cozumel is a favorite.

When she’s at home, you can often find her curled up with a book and her two rescue cats. The founder of a book club, Mary particularly enjoys memoirs, but her guilty pleasure is legal thrillers.

Mary is also a dedicated Notre Dame football fan who attends several games every year.

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