LIBERTYVILLE – For Tara Devine, her role as an attorney is more than winning a case. She is as a fighter, seeking justice for her clients who have suffered and who are the victims of wrong-doing, neglect and pain.
"I've got an opportunity to represent and help my clients at difficult times and to be an advocate for people who have been harmed," Devine said.
Devine is a partner with Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. in the Waukegan office. Devine grew up in Libertyville, a graduate of Libertyville High School, who considers herself lucky to have returned to her hometown to work and raise her own family.
"Libertyville had everything I was looking for," Devine said, mentioning the great education system, downtown restaurants, activities and traditions such as holiday parades.
It was as a student at Libertyville High School where Devine began to realize her interest in a law career and a talent for debate through her speech class.
"My mom would probably tell you that from a young age I loved to argue," Devine said. "I really started to develop a passion of argument and debate with speech class."
She studied at University of Illinois for her undergraduate degree and pursued a law degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. In her second year of law school, she worked as a law clerk during a summer internship at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Devine maintained her ties with the firm, working during summer breaks and was excited when they extended a job offer to her after graduation in the firm's Chicago office.
TJ Saye, chief operating officer at the firm, remembers when Devine started out and her eagerness to pitch in wherever help was needed, whether it was answering phones or handling paperwork.
"I remember she would do whatever it takes to get the job done," Saye said.
From her start as a law clerk through the years of hard work and dedication, Devine was honored when in 2012 she became the firm's first female partner.
"I had worked really hard as an associate and being promoted to partner…and to be the first female partner in the firm, I took a lot of pride in it," Devine said.
The firm's focus is civil litigation, representing the plaintiffs who are victims of injury, wrong-doing. She has represented victims of nursing home neglect, car accidents, and negligent medical cases.
"I make sure victims and their families get the compensation they might not otherwise get," Devine said. "I make sure the people we represent are on a level playing field and not taken advantage of."
The work isn't easy, but for Devine, it is more than work. She had found a passion, and one of her favorite aspects is the work in the courtroom, from selecting jurors to arguing a case.
"I still find, after all of these years, the entire experience [is] exciting," Devine said.
She balances her work life with her family. She met her husband, Sean, in high school. They began as friends and years later it blossomed into a relationship. Together they have three young children and enjoy the many opportunities for families in Libertyville and throughout Lake County.
Another way she finds balance is through her weekly hot yoga classes at Forever Om in Lake Forest.
"That's where I go to rejuvenate," Devine said.
She's also dedicated to her work as an attorney in the community, staying active with the Lake County Bar Association and being a legal resource for those with questions or seeking a fellow law professional.
"She's the kind of person you want to be around," Saye said. "She inspires people around her."
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