Shelley B. Ballard

Shelley B. Ballard, the owner and attorney at Shelley B. Ballard, PC, in Evanston, Illinois, has been a dedicated advocate for adoption law since 1988, a passion that blossomed after she became an adoptive parent herself. Her practice serves the Chicagoland area, including both the city and its suburbs, with a focus on a wide range of adoption cases such as:

·       Adoption for same-sex couples

·       Domestic adoptions

·       Foster adoptions

·       International adoptions

·       Interstate adoptions

·       Relative and stepparent adoptions

With extensive experience, Ms. Ballard has managed hundreds of cases independently and as a partner in a boutique law firm. Beyond her client representation, she has been pivotal in shaping adoption legislation in Illinois since the early 1990s. Her contributions include drafting and lobbying for key laws, such as the 1994 "Baby Richard Law," which established the Illinois Putative Father Registry and introduced crucial safeguards to the Illinois Adoption Act to minimize contested adoptions. Her efforts earned her formal recognition from the Illinois House of Representatives.

Academically accomplished, Ms. Ballard graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University School of Engineering in 1979 and cum laude from Northwestern University School of Law in 1987, where she was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Coif. Since 1990, she has been a fellow of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. Also, the Leading Lawyers Network consistently acknowledges her proficiency, which has named her a top lawyer in adoption and reproductive technology.

A respected figure in the legal community, Ms. Ballard actively participates in The Chicago Bar Association's Adoption Law Committee and has served as its chair three times. From 2014 to 2020, she took on the adjunct professor role at Loyola University Law School, where she taught an annual seminar on adoption law. Additionally, her written contributions to the field are substantial. She authored the lead article for the Illinois Bar Journal's December 1994 issue, "The Baby Richard Law: Changes to the Adoption Act." 

Ms. Ballard penned a chapter on adoption for the 2011 ISBA Family Law Handbook and wrote the section on Interstate Adoption for the 2024 Illinois Adoption Law Practice Handbook. Her insights are frequently shared with adoptive parent groups and legal professionals.