Karen Donnelly Law

08/26/2026

Today, I had a client make the incredibly difficult decision to take responsibility for her actions and accept a sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections. I am so incredibly proud of her for taking accountability and making the decision to move forward. I know this isn’t an easy road, but I wish her nothing but strength, courage, and the very best as she begins this next chapter. ❤️

08/22/2026

08/01/2026

Criminal Defense Q&A with Karen Donnelly

Question: “Can the alleged victim drop criminal charges?”

Answer: “One of the biggest misconceptions in criminal law is that the alleged victim decides whether charges go away. In Illinois, the prosecutor—not the victim—decides whether to proceed. As a former LaSalle County State’s Attorney, I know how those decisions are made. If you’ve been charged, don’t rely on myths or advice from social media. Get answers from someone who’s handled these cases from both sides.

Family Law and Criminal Defense Attorney

08/01/2026

One of the proudest moments in my career!

07/28/2026

Public Service Announcement: Opposing parties can leave Google reviews too. 😉

One of the occupational hazards of being a lawyer is making people mad.

If I’m representing Mom, Dad may not be my biggest fan.

If I’m defending someone accused of a crime, the complaining witness probably isn’t sending me a Christmas card.

If I’m negotiating a tough settlement, the other side isn’t nominating me for “Most Likable Attorney.”

And then…there’s the anonymous internet review or Facebook post.

Amazing how some people can remember every detail about how much they dislike an attorney but somehow forget to mention they were never actually the attorney’s client.

So when you’re reading anonymous reviews of any lawyer, remember: sometimes the loudest critics are the people the lawyer was supposed to be fighting against.

As for me? I’ll take a one-star review from an opponent over a five-star review that says, “She was really easy to beat.”

I’ll keep choosing my clients over my critics every single time.