Alicia Washington: Prairie State Legal Services
Alicia Washington became interested in a legal career when she was still in elementary school, but it wasn’t the fancy suits and million-dollar paydays that interested her. She wanted to follow in the footsteps of great helpers such as Thurgood Marshall. “My mother took me to the Peoria Public Library, which I believed was a privilege, and treated me to books on Justice Marshall and other amazing citizens who labored long and hard for equal rights for all citizens. My interest in the law was accelerated when I read about the Civil Rights Movement.”
She received further encouragement to accomplish her dream from her parents and community mentors such as Tri-County Peoria Urban League executive director Laraine Bryson. “She’s an attorney who mentored me throughout my legal education. I was actually blessed with two legal mentors who assisted me from high school to receiving my bar license,” Washington said.
A Peoria native and proud Peoria High School graduate, Washington earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in business administration, a master’s degree in leadership in human service administration from Bradley University, and a Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University. “My parents are responsible for raising a child in Peoria who believed she could achieve anything,” she said. “Also, fantastic District 150 teachers such as
Carolyn D’Hondt, Gary Millen, Alice Brophy, Mrs. Bright, and Phil Salzer all encouraged me to dream academically. The Peoria Tri-County Urban League also assisted me by offering free tutoring in calculus and physics, and I applaud that agency.”
Washington doesn’t want to give young people considering a similar career path the idea that her journey was easy. “I want them to be aware that in life you might have to work several jobs prior to reaching your goal. I worked at a university in Student Affairs, with a state senator while in law school, with my family at DECA Properties, and externed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.”
While it may not have been easy, Washington achieved her goal of becoming an attorney dedicated to helping others. In her current position as staff attorney at Prairie State Legal Services, she said her work reflects the lives of those who trust her with their most personal issues. “Typically, I review correspondence and communicate with staff members early in the morning. Our office serves five counties, and I travel to different counties daily. Often, I start my day in Peoria County and end it in Tazewell County. My docket is full of court hearings, administrative appeals, client interviews, researching issues, communicating with opposing counsel, and fact finding. But my job is made easier by having such fantastic staff supporting my efforts,” she said.
Pursuing a career in the public sector, rather than signing on with a lucrative law firm, was an easy decision, Washington said. “Prairie State Legal Services provided me an opportunity to practice the law in my hometown. In this season of my life, I’m honored to be in an office where the fruits of my labor have a direct impact on reducing barriers to citizens who often are in jeopardy of facing negative life-changing events without representation. I enjoy the items money can buy; however, I believe there comes a time in all of our lives where we have to measure rewards in forms other than the American dollar.”
She believes Prairie State Legal Services is as important to this community as having an emergency room. “Prairie State Legal Services is on the front line of defense when citizens feel they’ve been injured with family law issues, housing issues, Social Security issues, Medicaid denials, educational issues, and a plethora of basic human concerns. The issues often brought into our office are lifechanging ones. The stakes are high, and sometimes clarification or a quick diagnosis is necessary to bring an action or inject life back into a civil suit. One example is when we see individuals in our office who’ve been illegally evicted in all types of weather conditions and need immediate care. Within moments, we intake the client, research the issue, prepare documentation, and seek the court system for a remedy. Our office is often the last place clients will discuss their issue before they give up on pursuing justice through the court system. Many people in our community need an ear and an advocate as critically as they need their prescriptions. This office has served for years as a quality legal service provider that listens and acts.”
Washington said the work she does is what every attorney signed up to do: to be an avid advocate for clients who are in need of professional guidance. “I happen to practice in an area that involves families, and for many, that’s the only reason they exist. I believe equal access to the justice system should be offered to all who reside in this great nation. We all should be able to negotiate our problems in the courts—not on the streets. Equal access to the justice system, in my view, reduces the likelihood of violence, heartache, and misunderstandings. But many hard-working individuals find it difficult to find a high-quality advocate. I’ve always heard that in life, you’re either going into a storm, are currently in a storm, or are exiting a storm. I like to think of my work as being a tour guide out of the storm for my clients.”
Her guidance often results in smiles from clients who haven’t had anything to smile about in a while—which she said is the best aspect of her career. “There are signs one’s body provides when something magnificent has occurred. I see that when someone who once came into my office with her head hung down leaves court with her dignity and her head held high. Serving as the advocate for a person who’s been wronged and seeing justice served firsthand is exhilarating. Knowing I’m a vessel to assist people is gratifying.”
For Washington, the most challenging part is seeing the effects of domestic violence on children. “My heart goes out to the children who face such daily stressors and still survive,” she said. “I hope to serve as a bridge to those children, making them feel empowered to seek help and describe to legal advocates, judges, and law enforcement authorities that they’re in danger at home. Funding for legal services is necessary. As is the case with other nonprofit organizations, we always have a greater need for services than money; however, I believe we do an excellent job with the resources the community and local businesses have contributed. For that, we’re grateful. I challenge anyone interested in assisting others in accessing equal justice to join our campaign for legal services.”
Even with her hectic career, Washington makes room for volunteer work in her spare time, somehow managing to keep balance in her life. “I enjoy life to the fullest, and I attempt to keep my career in perspective. I understand I’m Alicia, who happens to be an attorney, and not the other way around. I can assist the community and my employer only if I’m healthy. There are 24 hours in a day, and I’m engaging in activities for 14 of those hours. Having been involved in a car accident, I try to live each day like it’s my last. It only takes one moment to change your life forever, and I was taught by wise people that tomorrow isn’t promised.” tpw
She received further encouragement to accomplish her dream from her parents and community mentors such as Tri-County Peoria Urban League executive director Laraine Bryson. “She’s an attorney who mentored me throughout my legal education. I was actually blessed with two legal mentors who assisted me from high school to receiving my bar license,” Washington said.
A Peoria native and proud Peoria High School graduate, Washington earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in business administration, a master’s degree in leadership in human service administration from Bradley University, and a Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University. “My parents are responsible for raising a child in Peoria who believed she could achieve anything,” she said. “Also, fantastic District 150 teachers such as
Carolyn D’Hondt, Gary Millen, Alice Brophy, Mrs. Bright, and Phil Salzer all encouraged me to dream academically. The Peoria Tri-County Urban League also assisted me by offering free tutoring in calculus and physics, and I applaud that agency.”
Washington doesn’t want to give young people considering a similar career path the idea that her journey was easy. “I want them to be aware that in life you might have to work several jobs prior to reaching your goal. I worked at a university in Student Affairs, with a state senator while in law school, with my family at DECA Properties, and externed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.”
While it may not have been easy, Washington achieved her goal of becoming an attorney dedicated to helping others. In her current position as staff attorney at Prairie State Legal Services, she said her work reflects the lives of those who trust her with their most personal issues. “Typically, I review correspondence and communicate with staff members early in the morning. Our office serves five counties, and I travel to different counties daily. Often, I start my day in Peoria County and end it in Tazewell County. My docket is full of court hearings, administrative appeals, client interviews, researching issues, communicating with opposing counsel, and fact finding. But my job is made easier by having such fantastic staff supporting my efforts,” she said.
Pursuing a career in the public sector, rather than signing on with a lucrative law firm, was an easy decision, Washington said. “Prairie State Legal Services provided me an opportunity to practice the law in my hometown. In this season of my life, I’m honored to be in an office where the fruits of my labor have a direct impact on reducing barriers to citizens who often are in jeopardy of facing negative life-changing events without representation. I enjoy the items money can buy; however, I believe there comes a time in all of our lives where we have to measure rewards in forms other than the American dollar.”
She believes Prairie State Legal Services is as important to this community as having an emergency room. “Prairie State Legal Services is on the front line of defense when citizens feel they’ve been injured with family law issues, housing issues, Social Security issues, Medicaid denials, educational issues, and a plethora of basic human concerns. The issues often brought into our office are lifechanging ones. The stakes are high, and sometimes clarification or a quick diagnosis is necessary to bring an action or inject life back into a civil suit. One example is when we see individuals in our office who’ve been illegally evicted in all types of weather conditions and need immediate care. Within moments, we intake the client, research the issue, prepare documentation, and seek the court system for a remedy. Our office is often the last place clients will discuss their issue before they give up on pursuing justice through the court system. Many people in our community need an ear and an advocate as critically as they need their prescriptions. This office has served for years as a quality legal service provider that listens and acts.”
Washington said the work she does is what every attorney signed up to do: to be an avid advocate for clients who are in need of professional guidance. “I happen to practice in an area that involves families, and for many, that’s the only reason they exist. I believe equal access to the justice system should be offered to all who reside in this great nation. We all should be able to negotiate our problems in the courts—not on the streets. Equal access to the justice system, in my view, reduces the likelihood of violence, heartache, and misunderstandings. But many hard-working individuals find it difficult to find a high-quality advocate. I’ve always heard that in life, you’re either going into a storm, are currently in a storm, or are exiting a storm. I like to think of my work as being a tour guide out of the storm for my clients.”
Her guidance often results in smiles from clients who haven’t had anything to smile about in a while—which she said is the best aspect of her career. “There are signs one’s body provides when something magnificent has occurred. I see that when someone who once came into my office with her head hung down leaves court with her dignity and her head held high. Serving as the advocate for a person who’s been wronged and seeing justice served firsthand is exhilarating. Knowing I’m a vessel to assist people is gratifying.”
For Washington, the most challenging part is seeing the effects of domestic violence on children. “My heart goes out to the children who face such daily stressors and still survive,” she said. “I hope to serve as a bridge to those children, making them feel empowered to seek help and describe to legal advocates, judges, and law enforcement authorities that they’re in danger at home. Funding for legal services is necessary. As is the case with other nonprofit organizations, we always have a greater need for services than money; however, I believe we do an excellent job with the resources the community and local businesses have contributed. For that, we’re grateful. I challenge anyone interested in assisting others in accessing equal justice to join our campaign for legal services.”
Even with her hectic career, Washington makes room for volunteer work in her spare time, somehow managing to keep balance in her life. “I enjoy life to the fullest, and I attempt to keep my career in perspective. I understand I’m Alicia, who happens to be an attorney, and not the other way around. I can assist the community and my employer only if I’m healthy. There are 24 hours in a day, and I’m engaging in activities for 14 of those hours. Having been involved in a car accident, I try to live each day like it’s my last. It only takes one moment to change your life forever, and I was taught by wise people that tomorrow isn’t promised.” tpw