Joyce Jezeer is an experienced attorney whose legal career spans nearly eighteen years across two legal systems. She began her professional path as an IT auditor before practicing law in the Netherlands for more than a decade. There, she served as a local government attorney and mediator in the The Hague region, developing extensive experience in public-sector law, regulatory enforcement, contract matters, torts, dispute resolution, and litigation involving governmental agencies.

After emigrating to the United States, Joyce continued her legal career in Illinois, where she has been licensed to practice law since 2019. She initially practiced local government law at a renowned Chicago-based firm, handling matters with significant procedural, contractual, evidentiary, and constitutional implications. This work provided a strong foundation in adversarial litigation, with a focus on protecting clients’ interests, navigating complex statutory frameworks, and crafting strategic defenses in high-stakes cases.

Since 2023, Joyce has concentrated her practice on domestic relations and estate planning, while also handling criminal defense matters. She represents clients in divorce and parentage actions, allocation of parental responsibilities, and related family law proceedings, as well as in estate planning designed to protect individuals and families during times of transition. Her criminal defense work reflects a commitment to fair process, proportional outcomes, and careful scrutiny of government action. Across all practice areas, her work is marked by meticulous preparation, strategic thinking, and unwavering attention to her clients’ rights and long-term interests.

Known for her goal-driven, no-nonsense approach, Joyce prioritizes efficient resolution, clear strategy, and practical results, while maintaining direct and transparent communication throughout the legal process.

As a widow, Joyce brings a personal understanding of how sudden life changes can affect families and financial security. This perspective allows her to combine empathy with decisive advocacy and tailored legal strategies.

Joyce earned her LL.M. in Civil Law and Corporate Law from Leiden University, one of Europe’s oldest and most respected universities.

EDUCATION

Leiden School of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands)

· 2010: Associate degree in Mediation

Leiden University (the Netherlands)

· 2006: LL.M in Civil Law and Corporate Law

BAR ADMISSION

· Illinois 2019

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES

· ABA Free Legal Answers, 2020 – present

· Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, 2019 – present

LANGUAGES

· English – Fluent

· Dutch – Native speaker

· German – B2 level

· French – B2 level

· Spanish – A2 level

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

· American Bar Association, Member

· Illinois State Bar Association, Member

· Chicago Bar Association, Member

· Women Everywhere: Partners in Service, Volunteer