Genie Miller Gillespie has been practicing law since 1993, primarily in the area of adoption, guardianship and assisted reproduction law, and was the President of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys from 2020 to 2022. She has been selected by her peers as a Leading Lawyer and Super Lawyer in Adoption & Reproductive Technology law.

Upon her graduation from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in 1992, she clerked for the Honorable Wendell P. Gardner, Jr., of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. In 1993, she returned to Chicago and practiced domestic relations and mental health law for a small firm, before joining the Chicago Bar Foundation as its pro bono director in 1997.

In 2001, she started her own practice, focusing on adoption, guardianship, mediation, and issues related to children and families. In addition to her practice, Genie was a co-founder of the Center for Law and Social Work [now Greenlight Family Services], a non-profit agency devoted to developing viable backup plans for older and ill adoptive parents and is the former director of the Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project at the American Bar Association.

Genie was one of the guardians ad litem appointed by the Circuit Court of Cook County to represent children in adoption cases for fourteen years.  She also volunteers as a guardian ad litem for minor children in guardianship cases through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, and represents children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status through the National Immigrant Justice Center by helping them obtain the necessary predicate orders. Genie has written numerous articles and has presented at multiple seminars about adoption and related issues. She regularly speaks with prospective adoptive parent groups about the adoption process.  She has also trained hundreds of attorneys to handle pro bono adoption and guardianship cases. She is the general editor and a chapter author of the IICLE Adoption Law Manual.

Genie previously served on the board of directors of Parents Care and Share, a child abuse prevention program and the I Am Who I Am Foundation which celebrated acceptance of all children with special needs through awareness. She was also the chair of the Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee in 2001 and 2008 and remains an active member of that committee.

BAR ADMISSIONS:

Illinois, 1993

EDUCATION:

Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, District of Columbia, 1992, J.D.

Washington University, St. Louis, 1987, A.B.

PUBLISHED WORKS:

IICLE Adoption Law Manual, General Editor and Chapter Author

PRESENTATIONS:

CBA Adoption Law Seminar (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

Adopting Through Foster Care (CAFFA, 2017, 2019, 2021)

Essentials of Adoption Law (NBI; 2018)

Essentials of Adoption Law (Decalogue Society, 2018)

Representing Birth Parents/The Contested Adoption (NBI; 2015)

Procedures for Terminating Parental Rights (NBI; 2014)

Practical Guide through the Adoption Practice (NBI; 2013, 2014)

IICLE Adoption Law (2012)

Practical Guide through the Adoption Practice and the Essentials of Adoption Law (NBI; 2011)

Equal Justice Conference 2011: Justice for All, Including Us: Creating Just and Balanced Work Environments

Equal Justice Conference 2010: Energizing Change: Transforming Compassion Fatigue, Finding Balance, and Sustaining Effectiveness

Equal Justice Conference 2009: Lawyers and Social Workers Working Together: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

IICLE Adoption Law (2009): DCFS Adoptions

Adoption Law Start to Finish (NBI; 2009)

4th Annual ISBA Solo Small Firm Conference: Adoption Law

ABA Family Law Section Conference (2008): Bringing Mental Health Expertise into the Legal Representation of Children

Children’s Law Center Conference (2007): ABA Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys

• President, 2020-2022
• Trustee, 2018-2023
• Fellow, 2011 – Present

Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee, 1999 – Present

• Chair, 2001-2002 and 2008 – 2009

American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member

American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member

American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Member

National LGBT Bar Association, Member

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS:

Center for Law and Social Work (now Greenlight Family Services), Co-Founder and Legal Services Director

Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project at the American Bar Association, Director

Chicago Bar Foundation, Pro Bono Director

Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services [CARPLS], Staff Attorney

Sandra G. Nye and Associates, Associate

Honorable Wendell P. Gardner, Jr., Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Law Clerk

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES:

IICLE Adoption Law Manual, General Editor and Chapter Author

Volunteer Guardian ad litem, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services

SIJS Cases through the National Immigrant Justice Center