12/16/2025
Featured Attorney: Andrew Sanchez
Dual Service: Andrew Sanchez, Public Defender & Major
Merging his legal career with the discipline of a major in the Illinois Army National Guard, Andrew Sanchez brings a powerful blend of insight, rigor, and advocacy to every case. As a native of Will County, Sanchez' journey to public defender came from many early life experiences, including observing the difficulties of the immigration process and discovering his true calling was within the courtroom.
A Personal Spark for Public Service
Sanchez's initial drive toward law was ignited not in a courtroom, but by a personal family struggle with immigration. He recalls his mother, who was formerly undocumented, paying an attorney for years to renew her work permit without ever achieving residency. This experience created an early desire to help others navigate complicated legal systems.
"Originally, way back in the day, I only wanted to be a transactional attorney to help with immigration stuff," Sanchez said.
Although his interests turned to criminal defense due to a positive experience working on high school mock trials, the idea of advocating for people in difficult positions continued to be a central theme throughout his career. His commitment to public service was strengthened while attending DePaul University through his involvement in an initiative to improve the graduation rate of minority men in college.
Balancing the Bar and National Guard
A distinctive element of Sanchez's career is his dual commitment as an attorney and an officer in the Illinois Army National Guard, which he joined in September 2011. Now a major, he manages the intensive demands of both roles, finding them surprisingly complimentary.
"A lot of people ask me how I balance both, and in the weirdest way, they're complimentary,” he said. “At least one week in a month, typically because I'd be in the guard, I would get pulled out of being a lawyer. I would work a different part of my brain when with the National Guard; this made me better when I would come back to my legal work."
Both hats he wears have given him incredible opportunities to develop valuable people and leadership skills that he believes ultimately contribute to him being a better public defender. Additionally, his time in the military has allowed him to interact with numerous groups, thereby expanding his ability to listen attentively and gather critical information from clients.
Tackling Systemic Challenges in Will County
Working in the Will County courts since January 2017, Sanchez sees two major, connected challenges facing his clients: lack of funds and a lack of legal education/awareness.
Simple financial barriers, such as an inability to pay off tickets, can lead to cascading legal issues like a suspended driver's license, preventing a person from getting to their job. He notes, however, that recent legal trends in Illinois, such as the introduction of the Temporary Visitor Driver's License (TVDL) and changes to suspend driver's licenses for certain unpaid tickets, have helped reduce the burden on many clients. The elimination of cash bail, or bond, has also been a
big, recent change impacting his day-to-day practice.
Building Trust and Serving the Individual
The foundation of Sanchez’s relationship with his clients is trust. Recognizing that many public defender clients come in with a "level of distrust" from prior negative experiences with attorneys, he consciously works to treat each person as an individual, not just a case file.
"They're a person; this is someone in a bad spot, and I'm here to help them." Sanchez said. "Every day, as best as I can, I give that person the attention that they need and deserve,” Sanchez said.
His core guiding principle comes back to what he witnessed with his mother's immigration attorney. He strives to ensure he is never treating his client as just someone who is going to help pay the bills.
Advice for Aspiring Legal Professionals
To new attorneys and those considering public defense, Sanchez offers this powerful advice:
He encourages new lawyers to embrace discomfort, recognizing that being outside your comfort zone is often where the best experiences are gained.
"If you're doing a trial, and you're not nervous, you probably shouldn't be doing the trial. Because the fact that you're nervous means you still care about this person and the results,” he added.
A key principle that guides him is "Lead Your Ship," from L. David Marquet's Turn the Ship Around! Sanchez encourages professionals to take charge of their careers, prioritize professional development, and invest in learning for lasting success.
