Zielinski Law LLCLawyer in Carbondale, Illinois
Zielinski Law LLC · Carbondale, Illinois · Jackson County · Southern Illinois
Civil litigation · Regulatory & administrative law · Appeals · Criminal defense
Zielinski Law LLC is the Carbondale law office of Kevin M. Zielinski, an Illinois attorney (ARDC No. 6354911) who lives and practices at the seat of Jackson County. The firm is deliberately small. Every matter is handled by the attorney you hire, from the first phone call through final judgment or mandate, and you will always know what is happening in your case and why.
Kevin learned the Jackson County courthouse from the inside as a Rule 711 law intern with the State’s Attorney’s Office, and he reads appellate decisions and administrative rules every day as Associate Counsel at the Institute for Reforming Government. That combination, local courtroom experience and daily work with the written law, is what the practice is built on.
Civil Litigation
Contract disputes, commercial disagreements, and other civil claims in Jackson County and the surrounding counties, for individuals and small businesses who need a lawyer willing to try the case rather than settle it cheap. Kevin handles the matter from demand letter through discovery, motions, and trial, and he will tell you early and plainly whether the case is worth the fight.
Regulatory & Administrative Law
Help dealing with government: state and local licensing, permits, agency hearings, open-records (FOIA) requests and disputes, and comments on proposed rules. Much of Kevin’s published work is on how agencies actually operate, and that is the lens he brings when a client needs something from an agency or needs an agency to stop.
Appellate Practice
Briefing and oral argument in the Illinois Appellate Court and reviewing courts, including amicus briefs. Appeals are won on the record, the standard of review, and the quality of the writing, which is where Kevin does his best work. He has drafted amicus briefing in federal court and co-authors reports analyzing hundreds of appellate decisions a year. If you have a judgment you want reviewed, the clock is already running; call promptly.
Criminal Defense in Jackson County
Local defense representation in Jackson County courts, including misdemeanors, traffic matters, and related hearings. Kevin participated in misdemeanor and felony proceedings from the prosecution side as a Rule 711 intern with the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office, so he knows how charging decisions get made and how cases get resolved in Murphysboro. He puts that to work for the defense.
Common questions
Do you take cases outside Carbondale?
Yes. The office is in Carbondale, but Kevin appears in courts throughout Jackson County and Southern Illinois, and appellate work is largely done in writing and can be handled for clients anywhere in Illinois.
How much does a consultation cost?
Call or email with a short description of the matter. Kevin will tell you up front whether it is something he handles and what an initial consultation involves before you commit to anything.
Do you handle traffic tickets and misdemeanors in Jackson County?
Yes. Local criminal defense, including misdemeanors and traffic matters in Jackson County courts, is a core part of the practice. Kevin worked these cases from the prosecution side as a Rule 711 intern with the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Can you handle an appeal in the Illinois Appellate Court?
Yes. Appellate briefing and argument, including amicus work, is one of the four practice areas. Appeals run on strict deadlines, so contact the firm as soon as a judgment or order is entered.
What does “regulatory and administrative law” mean for a small business?
Dealing with government: licenses and permits, agency hearings, open-records requests, and rulemaking comment. If a state or local agency is standing between you and something you need, that is the practice area.
Is anything I send you confidential?
Please do not send confidential details until an attorney–client relationship has been established by a signed engagement agreement. A conflict check comes first. Until then, a short description of the matter is enough.
Get in touch
Call (815) 979-3623 or email kevin@zielinskilawllc.com with a brief description of your matter and any deadlines. Consultations are by appointment in Carbondale or by phone, and you will hear back within one business day.