Nettie F. Sabin

After graduating from New Trier West High School, Nettie F. Sabin was awarded a B.S. in Music Education from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with High Honors. For the next 5 years, she worked as a substitute teacher and a claims adjuster. Ms. Sabin attended Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, graduating in 1981 with a commendation for Leadership and Service, having been the Editor-in-Chief of the Women’s Law Reporter, a participant in the Street Law Project and practicing under a 711 license in the newly opened Loyola Law Clinic.

Ms. Sabin started her career representing victims of domestic violence. She joined Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation as a staff attorney in the Family Law Project just as the Illinois Domestic Violence Act became law and was being implemented. In 1983, Ms. Sabin opened her solo practice. Initially a general practice, handling Adoptions, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, Wills & Estates, and Traffic Court, Ms. Sabin’s main area of practice was always Family Law. From October 2000 through March 2006, Ms. Sabin worked for two small firms, concentrating in Family Law: Barry L. Gordon & Associates, P.C. and the Law Offices of Carmen M. Quinones. In April 2006, she returned to solo practice.

Ms. Sabin now concentrates her practice on all matters relating to families: Divorce, parentage, child support, custody, division of the marital estate, maintenance, entering into and dissolving Civil Unions, post-decree enforcement and modifications, and adoptions.  Related to the general area of Family Law, Ms. Sabin also practices in Residential Real Estate and Wills & Trusts.

Ms. Sabin has always had a connection to the LGBT community, providing seminars and representation since becoming an Attorney. She is a founding member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC) and remains active in the community.

As a volunteer since the inception of the Facilitators Program, where attorneys are available to the Domestic Relations Judges in the mornings to help parties come to agreements and prepare orders, Ms. Sabin has been sharing her knowledge and experience to those without attorneys.

As soon as she passed the Bar Exam, Ms. Sabin joined the cast of the Chicago Bar Association’s Christmas Spirits Show, and participated for 13 years as a singing cast member.  This was a great way to incorporate her love of and education in music with the legal profession.

Ms. Sabin is a member of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), the American Bar Association (ABA) and LAGBAC. She is most active in the CBA Domestic Relations Committee and the Family Law Task Force reviewing recent legislation that will make many changes to family laws in Illinois if enacted.