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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 76 - 80 of 120 reviews
Posted by Elizabeth B | June 17, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Best attorney hands down!
I appreciate everything she has done for me and my daughter. Before hiring yolanda I went through 2 attorneys and have been in court for 2 years!! Yolanda did her thing in the matter of a short few months! I can breathe thanks to her. 1000000/10 would recommend she knows her stuff and gets the job ...
Posted by Derrick | May 06, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Expungement
What An Angel!!!!!!
Mrs Riley help me seal or expunge all 8 of my cases within a 4 month period.... we met through an event. We exchanged numbers for a meeting and met a second time to discuss my cases... I hired her and she took care of everything else... few months go by and I get an email stating all my cases have be...
Posted by Micki | April 30, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Expungement
A Changed Father Trying To Provide
I went and consulted with Mrs. Riley about cases that I wanted to have expunged off my record. I’ve been unable to obtain a CDL drivers license due to me being charged with one ecstasy pill. Yes, one ecstasy pill more than 12 years ago missed my life up. I’m not blaming anyone but myself! I made a du...
Posted by Derrick Parker II | April 29, 2022 | Hired Attorney
Outstanding
Very experienced and knowledgeable. Handled my case with delicacy and did her job well. Very well spoken and super easy to work with. Will definitely recommend her work.
Posted by Lacey | April 27, 2022 | Hired Attorney
Very professional and great communication
It was a pleasure having Ms.Riley as my lawyer she was very professional, she kept me updated on everything. She also gave encouraging words even when I felt things was at default. I would recommend her to anybody I know. She's amazing
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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