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Yolanda earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication and Criminal Justice from Illinois State University and a Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law. A proud Peoria native, she is deeply passionate about her work and committed to advocating for her clients.
She began her legal career as a Staff Attorney at a large regional firm handling matters across nine central Illinois counties, where her practice focused on expungements and record sealing, post-conviction criminal relief, family law, landlord–tenant disputes, orders of protection, and guardianship matters.
Yolanda later joined a smaller private practice, concentrating on family law, criminal defense, and expungement/sealing work, before moving on to serve as a Litigation Attorney with Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick, P.C. There, she focused on civil litigation, criminal defense, expungement/sealing, family law, and estate planning.
She is now the founder and principal of her own solo practice, serving clients throughout Central Illinois.
Yolanda is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Peoria County Bar Association, Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, Prairie State Legal Services Peoria Campaign for Legal Service, serves on the board of Elite Community Outreach, a member of the PCBA - Foundation Trustee Committe, and the ISBA Committee on Equal Justice.
Her prior leadership roles include serving on the board of the Hult Center for Healthy Living, as President of the Peoria Area Chapter of the ACLU and former member of Central Illinois Black Bar Association.
Yolanda’s dedication and impact have been recognized through numerous honors, including:
2018 Doers of Deeds Award
2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award
2021 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year – PCBA
2023 Peoria Role Model Project Recipient- City of Peoria
2024 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll Recipient – Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI)
2024 Game Changer Award – Elite Community Outreach
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Chat withState: Illinois
Acquired: 2016
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http://www.yolandarileylaw.com, 2601 W. Lake Ave. Ste. A6 #202, Peoria, IL, 61615
120 Client Reviews
Showing 56 - 60 of 120 reviews
Posted by Marlon | February 03, 2023 | Hired Attorney
Thank you
I didn't ask for much, but that is all it took and Yolanda literally handled everything. Her brutal honesty was a driving force for me to do what I was to do so she could help me with my legal issues. She communicated everything clearly and with speed, paperwork work time constraints included. Poised...
Posted by Sheryl | January 05, 2023 | Guardianship
Family
I reached out to Attorney Riley in regards of getting guardianship of my grandson. I feel she went above and beyond to make sure it was granted to me. Her professionalism was truly amazing. I would recommend her for anything that she does in all of her areas of expertise.
Posted by Latonia | December 30, 2022 | Criminal Defense
Executive Director
Attorney Riley although out of the jurisdiction that I caught my offenses, assisted in filing my petitions electronically through the courts! The State’s Attorney Objected to the petitions and as promised, Attorney Riley was there to answer my phone call to give me a date that she could appear in cou...
Posted by Mary | December 27, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Expungement
She has no compassion for people
I Mary McCormick was a client of attorney Yolanda Riley she had no compassion nor understanding for me. I could not ask her a question I just had to do what she told me to do and she was helping me get my criminal record expunged or sealed she had a terrible disposition. She would cut me off if I was...
Mary, I'm sorry you won't accept that I refuse to represent you. Your statements are untrue, however there are hundreds of attorneys here on Avvo that may better match your personality. Good luck
Posted by anonymous | November 06, 2022 | Hired Attorney
Criminal Record
She is the best that I know of around here. She keep you updated on what’s going on, she help Ulysses out as much as she can, let you know step by step what is happening, stay on top of things, respond to emails and phone calls in a timely manner and see to getting what needs to be done done. I am gl...
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2024
Game Changer Award, Elite Community Outreach
2024
Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll Recipient, Public Interest Law Initiative "PILI"
2023
Peoria Role Model Project Recipient, City of Peoria
2021
Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, Peoria County Bar Association
2020
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award, The King Holiday Committee
2018
Doers of Deeds, Jehan Gordan-Booth
2021 - Present
Attorney, The Law Offices of Yolanda J. Riley, LLC
2019 - 2019
Assistant Public Defender, Peoria County Government- Pubic Defender's Office
2018 - 2021
Litigation Attorney, Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick, P.C
2017 - 2018
Staff Attorney, Prairie State Legal Services
2021 - Present
PCBA- Diversity CommitteChair
2019 - Present
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
2016 - Present
Illinois State Bar AssociationMember
2015 - Present
Peoria County Bar AssociationMember
2021 - 2023
Hult Center for Healthy Living Board MemberBoard Member
2016 - 2020
American Civil Liberties UnionGeneral Member, Vice President & President
2015
JD - Juris Doctor
2019
Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Field
2017
Barriers to Employment
English
Legal Answers
If my arrest record has been expunged, how do I answer a question "Have you been arrested"?
17 Aug 2022
Can I press statutory rape charges?
19 Dec 2018
Fathers rights to child?
19 Dec 2018