Magen Mertes joins the Law Firm of Pignatelli, Liston & Mertes, P.C.

Magen J. Mertes, formerly Magen J. Thompson of Rock Falls, Illinois, has joined the law firm of Pignatelli, Liston & Mertes, P.C., as an associate attorney. 
 
Magen Mertes was raised by her parents, Larry and Judy Thompson, in the City of Rock Falls, Illinois.  She graduated as salutatorian from Rock Falls High School in 1997.  After high school, she attended Illinois Wesleyan University, graduating in 2001 with an International Business major and double minor in French and Asian studies.  During this undergraduate period of study, Mrs. Mertes studied abroad in France, China and Japan.
 
In May of 2001, Mrs. Mertes entered law school at American University-Washington College of Law, in Washington, D.C.  She therefore lived in Washington, D.C. during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack upon the Pentagon, anthrax attacks, the D.C.-area sniper shootings, the blizzard of the century, and the cicada swarm.  "When I left for Washington, D.C., I expected the challenges of life in law school," Mertes said.  "Of course, I never could have expected all of the other major events that would occur in our nation's capitol over those next three years."  The challenges of life in Washington, D.C. during those three years did not prevent Attorney Mertes from achieving  a high level of success, however.  Throughout law school, Mertes remained in the top ranks of her law school class, while also participating in many extra-curricular events.  Mertes was on the Moot Court Board and the Administrative Law Review for her law school.  She also participated in the law school's legal clinic, appearing in court in the nation's capitol. Then, in January, 2004, Mertes moved from D.C. to Chicago, where she completed her last semester as a visiting semester at Northwestern University College of Law, one of the highest-ranked law schools in the United States.  While attending her final semester of law school, Attorney Mertes worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge John Darrah of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois-Eastern Division, in downtown Chicago, Illinois.   "Working for Judge Darrah was a truly wonderful experience," Mertes said.  "I was able to closely observe important aspects of the federal court system, while working closely with a brilliant federal judge and his excellent staff in researching some of the cases that came before him while I was his clerk."  
 
During her summer breaks from law school, Mertes worked as a law clerk for the law firm of Pignatelli, Liston & Mertes, P.C.  In addition to performing research and drafting court documents in several cases, Mertes also had the opportunity to attend trials and court appearances with the attorneys of the law firm.  "I learned a great deal from watching the day-to-day practices of the attorneys in this firm.  Their contrasting litigation styles complement one another greatly.  I think that is one of the keys to this law firm's long history of success."  
 
Mrs. Mertes graduated from American University-Washington College of Law, in Washington, D.C., in May, 2004.  There, she received the high academic honor of graduating magna cum laude, meaning that she graduated in the very highest percentages of her large law school class.  At the time of her graduation, Mrs. Mertes was also admitted to the Order of the Coif, a prestigious law school academic society reserved only for those who graduate at the very highest levels of their law school class. 
 
Mrs. Mertes took the Illinois bar examination in July, 2004, and passed the bar examination on her first attempt.  In September, 2004, she married Attorney James W. Mertes, partner in the law firm of Pignatelli, Liston & Mertes, P.C.  Mrs. Mertes and her husband, James, now practice law together at the law firm of Pignatelli, Liston & Mertes, P.C.  "I have known Attorneys Pignatelli, Liston and Mertes for many years now.  I consider them friends, and I certainly respect them for the outstanding attorneys that they are.  And, of course, I simply love the opportunity to work with my husband.  The attorneys of this great law firm are outstanding trial lawyers, and I look forward to enhancing their contributions to the community in which I was raised."
 
Attorney Mertes is accepting new clients in the areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, custody, and child support, criminal law, including felony, misdemeanor, DUI and traffic cases, plaintiff's personal injury, and workers compensation.  Mrs. Mertes is also accepting clients in the area of estate preparation, including wills and powers of attorney, and probate.  Since she was raised in the community, she expects that she will be seeing many old friends as she develops her law practice.  "My family and I love this area.  I graduated from Rock Falls High School and my family and I remain as members of the United Methodist Church in Rock Falls.  I grew up here, so it is very exciting to now be practicing law here."  Asked whether she expects to see a lot of old faces, Mertes said, "I hope so.  I have made a lot of friends here in Rock Falls, and I hope that one of the exciting aspects of my law practice will come from seeing a lot of friendly and familiar faces."
 
Attorney Mertes can be contacted by e-mail at magen@northernillinoislawyers.com or by telephone at (815) 626-0500.   

Back to Law Firm News