J.D.  DePaul University College of Law
B.S.  University of Maryland
Member of Illinois Bar, U.S. Supreme Court Bar

"For more than 20 years I have worked with Barbara Weiner in different capacities. From the formation of organizations to addressing Human Resource issues, I have come to rely on Barbara's training and advice for staff and Board members.  She is an extraordinary resource!"   Sandy Lewis, Former Executive Director, McHenry County Mental Health Board.

Barbara A. Weiner has practiced law for more than 35 years.  She specializes in representing health care providers and not-for-profit community agencies.  In 1999, she served as President of the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys.  Barbara has written two books on mental health law, including one that received the Manfred S. Guttmacher Award for the best "Law and Psychiatry" book in 1987.  She has also published more than 30 articles and given hundreds of presentations on health law topics.  Barbara has been an Assistant Professor at both Rush and Northwestern University medical schools and an Adjunct Professor at Chicago Kent College of Law.

Barbara began her career as an attorney for the Illinois Department of Mental Health.  She then created the Isaac Ray Center at Rush Medical Center, a highly respected program that addressed the interface issues between law and the behavioral sciences.  As Executive Director of the Center, Barbara gained the experience of operating a not-for-profit Illinois funded agency.  This experience provided her with a unique understanding of the day-to-day problems confronting community agencies.

After leaving the Isaac Ray Center, Barbara joined the health law section of Katten Muchin, a major national law firm located in Chicago.  She opened her own law practice in Highland Park in 1988.

Barbara has represented more than 30 hospitals ranging from a 16-bed rural hospital to a large university medical center.  She has advised hundreds of physicians on contractual issues and worked with many group practices.  She provides representation to many community agencies including mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and child welfare.

Barbara has been an active volunteer.  She created the "Adopt A Family Holiday Drive" that provided Christmas presents and food certificates for more than 1000 needy people during the nine years she ran it.  She also was President of CASA-Lake County (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for four years and a member of the Board for ten years.  CASA advocates for abused and neglected children. For nine years she served on the Board of Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital.  Barbara has been a mentor for the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation. Barbara is currently a docent for the Chicago Architectural Foundation, giving architectural walking tours of downtown Chicago.