BIO

Ariel Hodges is an associate attorney at the law firm. Since joining the firm in 2019, Ariel has primarily focused her practice in the areas of Gaming and Casino Law. Ariel works closely with the partners at the firm to provide a wide range of legal services, including licensing, compliance, regulation, transactional law and commercial litigation. In addition, Ariel also serves as an Assistant Special State’s Attorney handling post-conviction petitions and claims brought under the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission Act.

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A cum laude graduate of UIC Johnson Marshall Law School (formerly The John Marshall Law School), Ariel has externed for Hon Judge Michael F. Otto at the Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section of the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, and clerked twice for the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender: for the Child Protection Division and for the Homicide Task Force. Ariel also worked at the John Marshall Law School Pro Bono Clinic, assisting the clients in cases brought under Section 1983 of Title 42 of the U.S. Code in the Northern District of Illinois. Ariel actively participated in the school’s Honors Programs, serving as a staff editor for the John Marshall Law Review and a member of the Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Council. Ariel competed twice in Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, during which her team won two brief awards in the same year and set a school record in Hong Kong. 

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Ariel is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois. She has native fluency in Mandarin Chinese. 

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EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Health and Society and Theatre Arts, Beloit College

Juris Doctor, The John Marshall Law School, Cum Laude

JD Certificate in Trial Advocacy, UIC John Marshall Law School

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OTHER EXPERIENCE

Restorative Justice Project, Coordinator, Chicago, IL
Research Assistant, Professor Hugh Mundy, Chicago, IL

 

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