Alfred Y Kirkland, Attorney

PERSONAL BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION

Alfred Y. Kirkland, Jr. was born in Elgin, Illinois on September 21, 1944.  He has lived in Elgin all of his life, as have the past generations on both sides of the family.  Al was admitted to the bar in 1974 in Illinois and Indiana and in the federal courts in Illinois and Indiana.  Al went to law school at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Review and graduated at the top of his class.  He spent the next year as clerk to the Honorable Luther M. Swygert, the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, Chicago, Illinois.  Al received his bachelor's degree from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, with honors.  Al practiced in Chicago, with Jenner & Block, before coming home to Elgin. 

Al and his wife, Janine, have 9 children.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE

Al concentrates his practice in civil trial work, including business and commercial, family law, injury cases and a variety of miscellaneous special remedies matters.  Al was a member of the MCI trial team which tried the original MCI vs. AT&T case in 1980 and again in 1986.  Al also represented the Concerned Citizens for Education in connection with a successful election recount effort in which, upon recount, it was determined that an apparently defeated School District U-46 Referendum involving over $170,000,000.00 of school construction had actually passed by a scant 3.06 votes out of over 15,000 cast.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Al and Janine are active in various local charitable organizations.

• Swick v. Liautaud 1996

• MCI v. AT&T 1983