ATTORNEYS

Meet the Attorneys at Jaquays & Ellis Attorneys at Law of will county


Edward R. Jaquays

Edward R. Jaquays (“Jake”) opened Jaquays & Ellis, formally The Law Offices of Edward R. Jaquays, in 1992 at our present location of 5 W. Jefferson Street, in Joliet. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Jake graduated from the State University of New York in 1971. After graduating from College, Jake relocated to Illinois to attend John Marshall Law School located in Chicago IL. Jake graduated law school with honors in 1975, and was admitted to practice law in Illinois and the Northern District of Illinois that same year. In 1982, Jake was admitted to practice law in the United States Supreme Court.

Jake’s long years of practice has come with an extensive and varied knowledge of all areas of litigation including appellate, criminal, civil, and family law. Presently, his practice is concentrated in complex family law matters, criminal law matters, and estate matters. Since 2014, Jake has been awarded the Leading Lawyers award, an award selected by his peers in the legal community.

Along with his practice, Jake is currently a Will County Public Defender on a part-time basis for over 40 years with the Will County Public Defender’s Office. In the past, Jake was a felony supervisor and has been personally involved in over 20 death penalty cases in Will County. Jake also has been an attorney for the Will County Merit Commission for over 20 years. He is currently active, not only in his practice, but also has shown his dedication to the local community of Will County and surrounding counties.


Throughout his years of practice, Jake was a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also a former member of the Capital Trial Bar Screening Committee and the former Chairman of the Will County Family Law and Criminal Law Committees.


Jake has been married to his loving wife for over 50 years and has been a dedicated father to his three wonderful daughters and a dedicated grandfather to his grandson. Both he and his wife enjoy traveling together and spending time with their family and friends.

Edward R. Jaquays — Joliet, IL — The Law Offices of Edward R. Jaquays
Mark Ellis — Joliet, IL — The Law Offices of Edward R. Jaquays

Mark Ellis

Mark was born and raised in the far south suburbs of Chicago in Will County. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Integrative Physiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998. After completing college, Mark worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was involved in the administration of several areas involving women’s health, including the resident’s and private clinics, clinical research, and the initiation of the Center for Excellence in Women’s Health.

Mark continued to pursue his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in and completed the program in 2003. In March 2004, Mark was appointed as an Assistant Public Defender with the Will County Public Defender’s Office where he gained valuable experience trying all levels of criminal cases, including felony and misdemeanor trials. In August 2007, he joined Jaquays & Ellis, formally The Law Offices of Edward Jaquays, where he continues to have a passion for criminal defense work and has expanded his practice to include family matters and appeal matters. Mark is also a registered Guardian Ad Litem and Mediator for the Will County area and has been referred by the local judges for their case call. On January 1st, 2023 Mark was named as a partner and the firm changed its name.


Mark is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and the Northern District of Illinois and is a member of the Will County Bar Association. Mark is a member of the Federal Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois. In addition to his experience trying criminal cases, Mark has experience drafting appeals and practicing before the Appellate Court and trying complex dissolution of marriage proceedings, including matters involving contested custody, support, visitation, and the valuation/allocation of business interests.

Dana Jakusz

Dana was born and raised in Lemont, Illinois and attended high school at Providence Catholic H.S. in New Lenox, Illinois. She received a scholarship to play softball at DePaul University, where she participated in two Women’s College World Series tournaments and was honored to be inducted into the DePaul University Athletic Hall of Fame. Dana also received her law degree at DePaul University’s College of Law, graduating in 2004.
 

Dana began her legal career at the Will County Public Defender’s Office and moved quickly into the felony unit within two years. Her aggressive and competitive reputation led to her being recruited into private local law firm, where she gained knowledge and experience in divorce litigation, child custody, and complex family law matters. However, Dana returned to the Public Defender’s Office after starting a family and had the opportunity to practice in all manners of misdemeanor, juvenile and felony law. In 2014, Dana was named the felony supervisor of the Domestic Relations Division, where she took part in many adversarial hearings, including felony bench and jury trials.


Dana joined Jaquays & Ellis, formally The Law Offices of Edward Jaquays, in January 2017, where she is had the opportunity to combine and expand her courtroom capabilities and skill sets in criminal and civil law. Throughout her career, Dana’s personal and professional experiences have enabled her to provide zealous advocacy and guidance through emotional and difficult legal processes. Dana’s aggressive and competitive reputation has followed her and she still fiercely defends her clients in all her practiced matters.

Dana Janusz — Joliet, IL — The Law Offices of Edward R. Jaquays
Mark Ellis — Joliet, IL — The Law Offices of Edward R. Jaquays

Nathaniel Tate

Nate was born and raised in the town of Lemont where he graduated from Lemont High School. Following high school, he attended Beloit College, located in Beloit, Wisconsin, where he continued his studies and his sports career as a two-sport collegiate athlete. Upon graduation, Nate received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Legal Studies. Nate then attended the Northern Illinois College of Law where he received his Juris Doctor in 2013.

 

In 2014, Nate started a career with the Will County Public Defender’s office, where he successfully represented numerous individuals that were charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. During his experience with the Will County Public Defender’s office, Nate accumulated a plethora of litigation experience as he conducted contested hearing against the State as to a variety of motions and petitions and engaged in both jury and bench trials at which individuals were charged with misdemeanor or felony offenses or a combination of the two.

 

In May of 2017, Nate joined Jaquays & Ellis, formally the Law Offices of Edward R. Jaquays, where he continues to litigate in the area of criminal defense and has expanded his portfolio to include family law litigation involving dissolution of marriage, child support, custody, and other related issues. Additionally, Nate has also gained a vast knowledge representing his clients in matters involving civil law, estate planning, probate law, order of protections litigation, etc.

 

Nate is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and is also admitted to the bar of the Northern District of Illinois. Nate is a current active member of the Will County Bar Association as well as the Chicago Bar Association. Throughout his legal career Nate has established earned the reputation as a fierce litigator that will always zealously advocate in defense and protect the interest of his clients. 

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